<PAGE>
As Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 20, 1999
Registration No. 333-75669
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO
FORM S-4
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
---------------
DOMINION RESOURCES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Virginia 4911 54-1229715
(State or other (Primary Standard Industrial (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction Classification Code Number)Identification Number)
of incorporation or
organization)
120 Tredegar Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 819-2000
(Address, including Zip Code, and telephone number, including area code, of
registrant's principal executive offices)
Patricia A. Wilkerson
W. H. Riggs, Jr.
Dominion Resources, Inc.
120 Tredegar Street
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 819-2000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
of agent for service)
With a copy to:
James F. Stutts, Esquire Robert L. Burrus, Jr., Esquire
Dominion Resources, Inc.
120 Tredegar Street McGuire Woods Battle & Boothe LLP
901 E. Cary Street
Richmond, VA 23219 Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 819-2000 (804) 775-7700
(804) 819-2233 (Fax) (804) 698-2023 (Fax)
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the securities to the
public:
As soon as practicable after this registration statement becomes effective.
If the securities being registered on this Form are being offered in
connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance
with General Instruction G, check the following box: [_]
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and
list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement number for the same offering. [_]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [_]
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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Proposed Maximum
Title of Each Class of Offering Price Proposed Maximum Amount of
Securities to be Amount to be Per Share of Aggregate Registration
Registered Registered(1) Common Stock(2) Offering Price(2) Fee(2)(3)
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<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common stock, without
par value............. 101,669,392 shares $41.46875 $4,216,102,599.50 $1,172,076.52
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</TABLE>
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(1) The maximum number of shares of Dominion Resources common stock, without
par value, to be registered, is based on the maximum number of shares to
be issued (250,169,392 shares) in connection with the mergers described in
this joint proxy statement/prospectus. 148,500,000 shares were initially
registered on Form S-4, Registration Statement, File No. 333-75669, on
April 5, 1999.
(2) The estimated registration fees have been computed pursuant to Rule 457
solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee based on the
average of the high and low sales prices of Dominion Resources common
stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape on
May 17, 1999.
(3) A filing fee of $1,137,881.25 was paid by Dominion Resources to the
Securities Exchange Commission on March 31, 1999, in anticipation of
filing preliminary joint proxy material of Dominion Resources and
Consolidated Natural Gas Company. A second filing fee of $399,910.50 was
paid on April 1, 1999 for the initial filing of the Form S-4 Registration
Statement, File No. 333-75669. The remaining balance of the filing fee of
$1,172,076.52 for this registration statement is being filed herewith
(paid May 18, 1999).
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or
dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant
shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this
Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with
Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement
shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission,
acting pursuant to Section 8(a), may determine.
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<PAGE>
a natural fit
a powerful future
[ARTWORK-ILLUSTRATION OF GREETINGS HANDS]
[Dominion Resources logo] [CNG logo]
create it today
Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus
<PAGE>
The Dominion Resources and CNG Merger
[map showing Combined Companies service areas]
The Dominion Resources
and CNG merger will
create the fourth largest
fully-integrated electric and
natural gas utility in the
country, with significant
interests in the Midwest-
Northeast quadrant,
home to 40 percent of the
nation's energy demand.
The Combined Companies
[icon] Power Service Territory
[icon] Independent Power
[icon] Natural Gas Service Territory
[icon] Gas/Electric Overlap Territory
[icon] Natural Gas Pipelines (owned and with partners)
[icon] Natural Gas Storage Field
[icon] Primary Oil and Gas Reserves
[Dominion Resources logo]
NYSE symbol: D
Headquarters: Richmond, Virginia
. 2 million customers
. 11,000 employees
. $18 billion in assets
. $6.1 billion in revenues
. 192 million shares outstanding
[CNG logo]
NYSE symbol: CNG
Headquarters: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. nearly 2 million customers
. 6,200 employees
. $6.4 billion in assets
. $2.8 billion in revenues
. 95 million shares outstanding
<PAGE>
[LOGO APPEARS HERE]
May 24, 1999
Dear Shareholder:
We are very pleased to offer this joint proxy statement/prospectus to you. As
you know from our 1998 Annual Reports, we are merging. Both of our Boards have
unanimously approved the mergers, which are explained in detail on page 21.
The Boards have agreed to a two-step merger transaction. In the first step, a
newly formed subsidiary of Dominion Resources will be merged into Dominion
Resources, and Dominion Resources will be the surviving company. This first
step is referred to as the First Merger. In the second step, CNG will either be
merged into another newly formed subsidiary of Dominion Resources and the
Dominion Resources subsidiary will survive or be merged directly into Dominion
Resources, with Dominion Resources as the surviving entity. In either case,
this second step is referred to as the Second Merger. Dominion Resources
shareholders must approve both mergers and CNG shareholders must approve the
Second Merger as a condition for either merger closing.
This is an exciting and important event in each of our company's history. It
is also an important decision for you as a shareholder. Therefore, we urge you
to read the attached materials thoroughly. We have made every effort to present
this information so that it is easy to read and understand.
Once you have read these materials, please vote your shares.
You do not have to take any other actions at this time. When we have received
all the necessary approvals, you will receive instructions from an Exchange
Agent regarding the exchange of your shares.
Sincerely, Sincerely,
/s/ Thos. E. Capps /s/ George A. Davidson, Jr.
Thos. E. Capps George A. Davidson, Jr.
Chairman, President and Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer Chief Executive Officer
Dominion Resources, Inc. Consolidated Natural Gas Company
Please see the section entitled RISK FACTORS beginning on page 8 for a
discussion of potential risks involved in the mergers and related transactions.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved the securities to be issued under this
joint proxy statement/prospectus or determined if this joint proxy
statement/prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the
contrary is a criminal offense.
<PAGE>
DOMINION RESOURCES NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING
May 24 , 1999
Dear Shareholder:
On June 30, 1999, Dominion Resources, Inc. will hold a special meeting of
shareholders at the offices of McGuire, Woods, Battle and Boothe LLP, 901 E.
Cary Street, One James Center-4th floor, Richmond, Virginia. The meeting will
begin at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
Only shareholders who owned stock at the close of business on April 29, 1999
may vote at this meeting or any adjournments that may take place. At the
meeting we propose to approve and adopt the merger agreement with Consolidated
Natural Gas Company with respect to:
. the First Merger; and
. the Second Merger, including the issuance of shares of common stock.
We also propose to approve the amendment to the Articles of Incorporation to
increase the number of authorized shares of Dominion Resources common stock
from 300,000,000 to 500,000,000.
Your Board recommends that you vote FOR each of these proposals which are
discussed in more detail in the attached joint proxy statement/prospectus.
The approximate date of mailing this joint proxy statement/prospectus and
card is May 24, 1999. I hope you will be able to attend the meeting, but even
if you cannot, please vote your shares as soon as possible.
By order of the Board of Directors,
/s/ Patricia A. Wilkerson
Patricia A. Wilkerson
Vice President and Corporate
Secretary
Dominion Resources shareholders should not send in their Dominion Resources
Common Stock Certificates until they receive instructions to do so.
<PAGE>
CNG NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING
May 24, 1999
Dear Shareholder:
On June 30, 1999, Consolidated Natural Gas Company will hold a special
meeting of shareholders at Tappan Hill, 81 Highland Avenue, Tarrytown, New
York. The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
Only shareholders who owned stock at the close of business on May 13, 1999
may vote at this meeting or any adjournments that may take place. At the
meeting we propose to:
. Approve and adopt the Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger with
Dominion Resources, Inc.
Your Board recommends that you vote FOR this proposal which is discussed in
more detail in the attached joint proxy/prospectus.
The approximate date of mailing this joint proxy statement/prospectus and
card is May 24, 1999. I hope you will be able to attend the meeting, but even
if you cannot, please vote your shares as soon as possible.
By order of the Board of Directors,
/s/ E. J. Marks, III
E. J. Marks, III
Corporate Secretary
ATTENTION: Shareholders Participating in the Dividend
Reinvestment Plan
The accompanying proxy card reflects the total shares of common stock
registered in your name directly, as well as any full shares credited to your
Dividend Reinvestment Plan account.
Shareholders should not send in their CNG Common Stock
Certificates until they receive instructions to do so.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS SUMMARY.................................. 1
RISK FACTORS.............................................................. 8
COMPARATIVE MARKET PRICE INFORMATION 10
Dominion Resources...................................................... 10
CNG..................................................................... 10
Per Share Data.......................................................... 11
SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA........................... 12
Dominion Resources...................................................... 12
CNG..................................................................... 13
SELECTED UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
DATA..................................................................... 14
NOTES TO SELECTED HISTORICAL AND UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA............................................... 15
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS................................................ 16
THE SPECIAL MEETINGS OF DOMINION RESOURCES AND CNG SHAREHOLDERS........... 17
Dominion Resources Special Meeting...................................... 17
CNG Special Meeting..................................................... 17
Appraisal Rights........................................................ 20
THE MERGERS............................................................... 21
Overview................................................................ 21
Background to the Mergers............................................... 22
Reasons for the Mergers................................................. 27
Post-Merger Business Plan............................................... 28
Recommendations of the Boards of Directors.............................. 30
What Shareholders Will Receive in the Mergers........................... 33
Source of Funds......................................................... 35
Dividends............................................................... 35
Management of Dominion Resources Following the Mergers.................. 36
Opinion of Dominion Resources' Financial Advisor........................ 36
Opinion of CNG's Financial Advisor...................................... 42
Appraisal Rights of CNG Shareholders.................................... 48
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences........................... 50
Interest of Certain Persons in the Mergers.............................. 53
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Accounting Treatment...................................................... 56
CNG Shareholders Lawsuits Regarding the Mergers........................... 57
Resales of Dominion Resources Common Stock................................ 57
Stock Exchange Listing.................................................... 57
THE MERGER AGREEMENT........................................................ 58
Overview.................................................................. 58
Effective Time............................................................ 58
Effects of the Merger..................................................... 58
Election.................................................................. 59
Limits on Cash and Stock Considerations................................... 60
Allocation................................................................ 60
Tax Reallocation.......................................................... 62
Exchange of Stock Certificates............................................ 62
Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates.................................... 62
Representations and Warranties............................................ 63
Conduct of Business Pending the Mergers................................... 64
No Solicitation of Transactions........................................... 65
Conditions to the Mergers................................................. 66
Benefit Plans............................................................. 67
Treatment of CNG Stock Options and Stock Awards........................... 68
Termination............................................................... 68
Termination Fees.......................................................... 69
Expenses.................................................................. 70
Amendment and Waiver...................................................... 71
REGULATORY MATTERS.......................................................... 72
Antitrust Considerations.................................................. 72
1935 Act.................................................................. 72
Atomic Energy Act......................................................... 73
Federal Power Act......................................................... 73
Virginia Commission....................................................... 74
North Carolina Commission................................................. 74
West Virginia Commission.................................................. 74
Pennsylvania Commission................................................... 74
Ohio Commission........................................................... 75
Affiliate Contracts and Arrangements...................................... 75
Other Regulatory Matters.................................................. 75
THE COMPANIES............................................................... 76
Dominion Resources ....................................................... 76
CNG....................................................................... 77
Power Generation Development.............................................. 78
DESCRIPTION OF DOMINION RESOURCES CAPITAL STOCK............................. 79
General................................................................... 79
Common Stock.............................................................. 79
Preferred Stock........................................................... 79
</TABLE>
i
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
COMPARATIVE RIGHTS OF SHAREHOLDERS.......................................... 80
Board of Directors........................................................ 80
Payment of Dividends...................................................... 80
Cumulative Voting......................................................... 80
Preemptive Rights......................................................... 80
Removal of Directors...................................................... 80
Board of Director Vacancies............................................... 81
Shareholder Proposals and Director Nominations............................ 81
Meetings of Shareholders.................................................. 82
Shareholder Action Without a Meeting...................................... 82
Shareholders' Inspection Rights........................................... 82
Directors' Duties......................................................... 82
Limitations on Director and Officer Liability; Indemnification............ 83
Common Stock Purchase Rights.............................................. 84
Anti-takeover Statutes.................................................... 84
Consolidation, Merger, Share Exchange and Transfer of Assets.............. 85
Shareholders' Rights In Certain Transactions.............................. 86
Anti-takeover Effects..................................................... 86
Amendment of Articles of Incorporation.................................... 86
AMENDMENT TO THE DOMINION RESOURCES' ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION.............. 87
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA.......... 88
The Transaction........................................................... 88
Accounting Treatment...................................................... 88
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Dominion Resources and Subsidiary Companies Unaudited Pro Forma Combined
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income from Continuing Operations for
the Year Ended December 31, 1998 and Three Months Ended March 31, 1999... 89
Dominion Resources and Subsidiary Companies Unaudited Pro Forma Combined
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at March 31, 1999................... 91
Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements............................................................... 93
LEGAL MATTERS............................................................... 95
EXPERTS..................................................................... 95
SUBMISSION OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS......................................... 95
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION......................................... 96
Annexes
A--Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger........................ A-1
B--Fairness Opinion of Lehman Brothers Inc. ................................ B-1
C--Fairness Opinion of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated... C-1
D--Section 262 of the Delaware General Corporation Law...................... D-1
</TABLE>
ii
<PAGE>
Summary
JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This summary highlights selected information from this joint proxy
statement/prospectus. It may not contain all of the information that is
important to you. To better understand the mergers of Dominion Resources, Inc.
(Dominion Resources) and Consolidated Natural Gas Company (CNG), and for a more
complete description of the mergers and related transactions, we urge you to
read this entire document carefully, including the annexes. Each item in this
summary includes a page reference directing you to a more complete description
of the item.
Both mergers must receive the necessary shareholder approvals before either
merger can be consummated.
The Mergers (page 21)
The Boards have agreed to a two-step merger transaction. In the first step, a
subsidiary of Dominion Resources will be merged into Dominion Resources and
Dominion Resources will survive. This first step is referred to as the First
Merger. In the second step, CNG will either:
. be merged into another subsidiary of Dominion Resources and the Dominion
Resources subsidiary will survive; or
. be merged directly into Dominion Resources, with Dominion Resources as the
surviving entity.
In either case, this second step is referred to as the Second Merger.
Throughout this joint proxy statement/prospectus, the companies are sometimes
referred to after the mergers as the combined company.
Dominion Resources shareholders must approve both mergers and CNG
shareholders must approve the Second Merger as a condition to either merger
closing.
What Shareholders Will Receive in the Mergers (page 33)
In the mergers, shareholders of both Dominion Resources and CNG will have the
option to elect to receive either cash or Dominion Resources common stock in
return for each of their Dominion Resources or CNG shares, as the case may be,
subject to certain limitations discussed below. Shareholders of both CNG and
Dominion Resources may elect to exchange some of their shares for cash and some
for stock.
Following the mergers, current Dominion Resources shareholders will own
approximately 65 percent of the combined company and current CNG shareholders
will own approximately 35 percent of the combined company.
Dominion Resources
In exchange for each share of Dominion Resources common stock held, Dominion
Resources shareholders will be given the option to receive either $43.00 in
cash or one share of Dominion Resources common stock. In either case, this
option is subject to the limitation that the aggregate amount of cash to be
distributed to Dominion Resources shareholders in the First Merger shall be
equal to $1,251,055,526 (plus any cash paid for fractional shares). Dominion
Resources has the right to increase this amount to $1,668,400,000 to more
closely follow the actual elections of Dominion Resources shareholders as long
as the increase in the cash consideration does not affect the desired tax
treatment of the Second Merger.
When completed, the First Merger will reduce Dominion Resources shares
outstanding so that the Second Merger is less dilutive to earnings for Dominion
Resources shares outstanding after the mergers.
CNG
In exchange for each share of CNG common stock held, CNG shareholders will be
given the option to receive either $66.60 in cash or shares of Dominion
Resources common stock at an exchange ratio described below, plus cash to the
extent that 1.52 multiplied by the Average Price (as defined below) is less
than $66.60. In either case, this option is subject to proration so that
38,159,060 shares of CNG stock (including any fractional shares exchanged for
cash) will be converted into the right to receive cash in the Second Merger.
However, Dominion Resources may reallocate the cash and shares of Dominion
Resources stock to be received by CNG shareholders to more closely follow the
actual elections of the CNG shareholders as long as the reallocation does not
affect the desired tax treatment of the second merger.
The exchange ratio will be $66.60 divided by the Average Price if that price
is greater than or equal to $43.816, and 1.52 if the average market price is
less than $43.816. The exchange ratio will vary depending on the average market
price of Dominion Resources common stock over a 20 trading day period shortly
1
<PAGE>
Summary
before the closing (the Average Price). For a discussion of the effect of the
timing of the calculation of the exchange ratio on what shareholders will
receive, see RISK FACTORS.
Allocations
As a result of the limitations described above and the tax allocation
provisions described below, the amount of cash and stock received by
shareholders may differ from their actual elections. If Dominion Resources
common stock is over-subscribed by the shareholders of either company, a
shareholder of that company who elected Dominion Resources common stock may
receive part of his consideration in cash. If cash is over-subscribed by the
shareholders of either company, a shareholder of that company who elected cash
may receive part of his consideration in the form of Dominion Resources common
stock.
Dominion Resources is required to reduce the amount of cash delivered and
increase the number of shares issued pursuant to the Second Merger to the
extent necessary to maintain the desired tax treatment of the Second Merger.
Fractional Shares
Shareholders who hold certificated shares will receive cash for any fractional
share of Dominion Resources common stock received in the mergers, based upon
the market value of Dominion Resources common stock on the date the mergers are
completed. However, any fractional shares held in certain of CNG's or Dominion
Resources' stock plans may be retained as fractional shares.
Shareholders should not send in their common stock certificates until they
receive further instructions.
The Companies (page 76)
Dominion Resources
Dominion Resources is a diversified utility holding company headquartered in
Richmond, Virginia. Its principal subsidiary is Virginia Electric and Power
Company (Virginia Power), a regulated public utility that generates, transmits,
distributes and sells electric energy. Its principal service territory is
Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. Dominion Resources' other major
subsidiaries are Dominion Capital, Inc. (Dominion Capital), its diversified
financial services subsidiary, and Dominion Energy, Inc. (Dominion Energy), its
independent power and natural gas subsidiary.
Effective May 1, 1999, Dominion Resources announced an organizational
restructuring for its energy business along functional lines with the following
areas of focus:
. power generation/off systems transactions;
. bulk power delivery and distribution; and
. oil and gas development, exploration and operation.
By the time of the anticipated deregulation of generation in Virginia in
2002, Dominion Resources plans to conduct all of its power generation/off
systems businesses through a new subsidiary to be known as Dominion Generation.
Dominion Resources' principal offices are located at 120 Tredegar Street,
Richmond, Virginia 23219, telephone (804) 819-2000.
CNG
CNG is one of the nation's largest producers, transporters, distributors and
retail marketers of natural gas. The company's natural gas transmission and
distribution operations serve customers in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, West
Virginia, New York and other states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
CNG explores for and produces oil and natural gas in the United States and
Canada. The company also selectively participates in energy businesses abroad.
CNG's principal offices are located at CNG Tower, 625 Liberty Avenue,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222, telephone (412) 690-1000.
New Sub I
New Sub I will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Dominion Resources formed under
the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia solely for the purpose of the First
Merger.
New Sub II
New Sub II will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Dominion Resources formed under
the laws of the State of Delaware solely for the purpose of being the surviving
corporation of the Second Merger.
Reasons for the Mergers (page 27)
The mergers will create the nation's fourth largest electric and natural gas
utility, serving nearly four
2
<PAGE>
Summary
million retail customers in five states. Dominion Resources and CNG believe the
mergers will:
. give the combined company the scale, scope and skills necessary to be
successful in the competitive energy marketplace, allowing the combined
company to offer a broad line of energy products as the gas and electric
industries continue to converge;
. create a platform for growth in a region that is rapidly deregulating and
is the source of approximately 40 percent of the nation's demand for
energy, allowing the combined company to market its portfolio of energy
products to a broad customer base;
. establish a company with combined natural gas storage, transportation and
electric power production capability concentrated in the Northeast and
Mid-Atlantic region; and
. enable the combined company to realize cost savings from elimination of
duplicate corporate and administrative programs, greater efficiencies in
operations and business processes, and streamlined purchasing practices.
The Meetings (page 17)
Dominion Resources Special Meeting
Dominion Resources will hold its special meeting of shareholders at 9:30 a.m.,
on June 30, 1999 at the offices of McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe LLP, 901 E.
Cary Street, One James Center-4th floor, Richmond, Virginia.
Shareholders of Dominion Resources will be asked to approve and adopt the
merger agreement with respect to:
. the First Merger; and
.the Second Merger, including the issuance of Dominion Resources common
stock.
Shareholders will also be asked to approve an amendment to the Dominion
Resources Articles of Incorporation to increase the authorized common shares
from 300,000,000 to 500,000,000 to have sufficient shares available to complete
the mergers.
All items require approval by a majority of the votes present at the special
meeting.
Each of your Dominion Resources shares held on April 29, 1999 will be counted
as one vote.
CNG Special Meeting
CNG will hold its special meeting of shareholders at 9:30 a.m., on June 30,
1999 at Tappan Hill, 81 Highland Avenue, Tarrytown, New York.
Shareholders of CNG will be asked to approve and adopt the merger agreement.
Approval and adoption of the merger agreement will require the affirmative
vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of CNG common stock.
You will have one vote for each share of CNG common stock held on May 13,
1999.
Recommendations of the Boards of Directors (page 30)
Dominion Resources
The Dominion Resources Board of Directors, by unanimous vote, has approved and
adopted the merger agreement, including the issuance of Dominion Resources
common stock in accordance with the merger agreement, and determined that the
mergers are in the best interests of the company and its shareholders. The
Board of Directors also, by unanimous vote, has approved the amendment to the
Dominion Resources Articles of Incorporation. The Dominion Resources Board of
Directors recommends that Dominion Resources shareholders vote FOR the approval
and adoption of the merger agreement with respect to the First Merger; FOR the
approval and adoption of the merger agreement, including the issuance of
shares, in connection with the Second Merger; and FOR the amendment to the
Articles of Incorporation. The Dominion Resources Board of Directors took these
actions after consideration of a number of factors described later.
CNG
The CNG Board of Directors, by unanimous vote, has approved and adopted the
merger agreement, believes the Second Merger is fair and in the best interests
of CNG and CNG shareholders and is advisable, and recommends that CNG
shareholders vote FOR, approve and adopt the merger agreement. The CNG Board of
Directors approved and adopted the merger agreement after consideration of a
number of factors described later.
3
<PAGE>
Summary
Dividends (page 35)
The merger agreement places restrictions on Dominion Resources' and CNG's
ability to declare or pay dividends, split, combine or reclassify their capital
stock or redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire any shares of their capital
stock other than in the ordinary course or according to previously announced
plans pending closing of the mergers. The merger agreement does not restrict
Dominion Resources' and CNG's ability to declare or pay regular annual
dividends of $2.58 per share of Dominion Resources common stock or $1.94 per
share of CNG common stock with usual record and payment dates.
The current annual dividend for Dominion Resources is $2.58 per share.
Dominion Resources' targeted payout ratio of dividends to earnings is 70
percent to 75 percent. At present, the payout ratio is higher. Dominion
Resources' business plan projects that the targeted ratio will be achieved
within two years post-closing through earnings growth. Therefore, Dominion
Resources' dividend will be maintained at its current level.
Management of Dominion Resources Following the Mergers (page 36)
Thos. E. Capps will be the President and Chief Executive Officer of Dominion
Resources after the mergers, and George A. Davidson, Jr., will serve as
Chairman of the Board of Directors until his previously announced retirement on
August 1, 2000, at which time Mr. Capps will reassume his position as Chairman.
The Board of Directors of Dominion Resources will have 17 members, 10 of whom
will be designated by Dominion Resources and seven of whom will be designated
by CNG. Dominion Resources will continue to use the name Dominion Resources and
be headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. The combined company will continue to
maintain a significant operating office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Tax Consequences (page 50)
Neither Dominion Resources nor CNG will recognize gain or loss as a result of
the mergers. Additionally, neither Dominion Resources nor CNG shareholders will
recognize gain or loss for shares of Dominion Resources common stock they
receive in the mergers. In general, however, CNG shareholders will recognize
taxable gain for any cash they receive in the Second Merger and Dominion
Resources shareholders will recognize taxable gain or loss, if any, for any
cash they receive in the First Merger.
Background to the Mergers (page 22)
For the past few years, both companies have considered a variety of strategic
alternatives to enable each of them to better compete in the deregulating
energy industry. Beginning in the fall of 1998, executive officers from both
companies met informally on several occasions to discuss a possible
combination. After conferring with their respective Boards of Directors and
advisors in late 1998 and early 1999, the companies proceeded with merger
negotiations that resulted in the initial merger agreement.
After entering into an initial merger agreement in February 1999, the Boards
of Directors approved a revised structure following CNG's receipt of an
unsolicited offer from a third party. The companies negotiated and entered into
the revised merger agreement in May 1999. When we discuss the merger agreement
in this joint proxy statement/prospectus, we are referring to the revised
merger agreement, unless otherwise noted.
The Merger Agreement (page 58)
The merger agreement, as amended and restated, is attached as Annex A to this
joint proxy statement/prospectus. Your companies encourage you to read the
merger agreement in its entirety.
Conditions to the Mergers (page 66)
The completion of the mergers is subject to a number of conditions that must be
completed or waived before the closing, including:
. approval by the Dominion Resources shareholders and the CNG shareholders;
. receipt by CNG and Dominion Resources of an opinion of counsel that the
Second Merger will be treated as a reorganization under the Internal
Revenue Code;
. clearance under antitrust laws, approval by the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, and all
other necessary federal and state regulatory approvals, with such
approvals not having any terms or conditions attached that would have, or
would be reasonably likely to have, a material adverse effect on Dominion
Resources and CNG on a consolidated basis;
4
<PAGE>
Summary
. approval for listing on the New York Stock Exchange of the shares of
Dominion Resources common stock to be issued in the mergers;
. each company's performance in all material respects of its obligations
under the merger agreement;
. each company's representations and warranties contained in the merger
agreement being, and continuing to be, true and correct in all material
respects;
. no material adverse effect having occurred, or being reasonably likely to
occur, with respect to either company and its subsidiaries taken as a
whole or on the consummation of the merger agreement; and
. no injunction that prohibits either of the mergers.
Termination (page 68)
The merger agreement allows for termination of the agreement:
. by mutual consent;
. by either company if the closing does not occur on or before January 31,
2000, (provided that such date shall be extended to July 31, 2000, if all
statutory approvals have not yet been received and all other conditions
are then capable of being satisfied), other than a company whose failure
to fulfill obligations under the merger agreement resulted in the failure
of the Effective Time to occur;
. by either company if any shareholder vote is not obtained;
. by either company if any state or federal law or other action would
prohibit the mergers or cause a material adverse effect on either company;
. by either company if, as a result of an acquisition proposal from another
company, its Board of Directors determines in good faith (after receipt of
a legal opinion regarding the board's fiduciary obligations) that its
fiduciary duties require acceptance of the other proposal;
. by either company based on an uncured material breach of the other; or
. by either company if the Board of Directors of the other company
withdraws, modifies in an adverse manner or fails to reaffirm its
recommendation of the mergers or recommends another transaction.
Termination Fees (page 69)
If the merger agreement is terminated because of a material breach or failure
to comply with obligations under the merger agreement by either Dominion
Resources or CNG, such company will be required to reimburse the other for its
expenses up to $25 million. If the breach or failure is willful, however,
Dominion Resources or CNG will also be responsible for actual damages incurred
by the other company.
Either Dominion Resources or CNG will be required to pay the other company a
fee of $200 million plus expenses of up to $25 million if:
. either company's Board of Directors, before shareholder approval, receives
an acquisition proposal from another company that it determines, in good
faith (after receipt of a legal opinion regarding the board's fiduciary
obligations) and based on its fiduciary responsibility, it must accept,
and it enters into an agreement with respect to such proposal (or another
proposal in lieu thereof) within two years of the termination of the
merger agreement between CNG and Dominion Resources; or
. either company's Board of Directors withdraws or modifies in an adverse
manner its recommendation, fails to reaffirm its recommendation upon the
other's request or approves or recommends an acquisition offer of a third
party; or
. either company's Board of Directors does not facilitate shareholder
approval in the manner required by the merger agreement and at the time of
termination, a third party offer is outstanding, except as described
below.
The termination fee and expenses are not payable in the event of termination
as a result of either
5
<PAGE>
Summary
company's shareholders failure to approve the mergers, even if there is a
third-party offer outstanding, unless the Board of Directors of that company:
. withdraws, amends or otherwise modifies its approval or recommendation of
the mergers or merger agreement in an adverse manner;
. fails to reaffirm its approval or recommendations of the mergers or the
merger agreement;
. approves or recommends a third party offer to acquire the company's shares
or a material portion of its assets; or
. resolves to take any of the actions above.
However, the termination fee and expenses are payable even if the Board of
Directors of that company has not taken the action above, if the company enters
into an agreement to consummate a business combination (as defined) with a
third party within two years of such termination.
Regulatory Matters (page 72)
Dominion Resources and CNG must receive the approvals of certain federal and
state regulatory agencies before the mergers can be completed. At the federal
level, these approvals include approval of the Securities and Exchange
Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Additionally, the
waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act must have
expired. At the state level, the parties expect to obtain approvals from
regulators in Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Upon consummation of the mergers, Dominion Resources expects to register as a
holding company under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (1935
Act). If CNG, an existing registered holding company under the 1935 Act, merges
into New Sub II in the Second Merger, New Sub II will also become registered as
a 1935 Act holding company. The 1935 Act imposes a number of restrictions on
the operations of registered holding company systems. For example, the
Securities and Exchange Commission must approve certain securities acquisitions
and issuances, sales and acquisitions of assets or securities of utility
companies or acquisitions of interests in any other business. The 1935 Act also
limits the ability of registered holding companies to engage in activities
unrelated to their utility operations and regulates holding company system
service companies and the rendering of services by holding company affiliates
to other companies in their system. Dominion Resources and CNG believe they
will be able to satisfy the Securities and Exchange Commission's requirements
for a registered holding company system.
The Securities and Exchange Commission may require as a condition to its
approval of the Second Merger under the 1935 Act that Dominion Resources divest
certain of its activities which are unrelated to the utility or energy
operations of the combined companies within a reasonable time after the
mergers. In several cases, the Securities and Exchange Commission has allowed
the retention of non-utility related activities or deferred the question of
divestiture for a substantial period of time. In those cases in which
divestiture has taken place, the Securities and Exchange Commission has usually
allowed enough time to complete the divestiture to allow the applicant to avoid
a premature or untimely sale of the divested assets. Dominion Resources has
requested in the 1935 Act application that it be allowed to retain its non-
utility related investments or, in the alternative, that the question of
divestiture be deferred. However, Dominion Resources will amend its application
to reflect the anticipated divestiture of Dominion Capital.
Interest of Certain Persons in the Second Merger (page 53)
Shareholders should be aware that a number of CNG's executive officers have
severance agreements or participate in benefit plans that give them interests
in the Second Merger that are different from, or in addition to, other CNG
shareholders. As a result, the total amount that may be payable to CNG's
executive officers is expected to be material. Since it is not known which, if
any, individuals will receive payments under these arrangements, the amount
cannot presently be determined. In addition, under the merger agreement, all
awards under CNG's incentive and other stock based plans will be converted into
the right to receive cash equal to the fair value of such awards, determined
using recognized option valuation methodologies, at the time the Second Merger
occurs.The cash amount to be paid to executive officers of CNG for awards that
vest upon a change of control is estimated to be $13 million assuming these
awards are not cashed out shortly after the CNG special meeting in accordance
with the terms of the plans governing the awards.
6
<PAGE>
Summary
Accounting Treatment (page 56)
The First Merger will be treated as a reorganization with no changes in the
recorded amount of Dominion Resources' assets and liabilities.
The Second Merger will be accounted for under the purchase method of
accounting.
Amendment to the Dominion Resources Articles of Incorporation (page 87)
Dominion Resources shareholders are being asked to approve an amendment to the
Dominion Resources Articles of Incorporation to increase the authorized shares
of common stock from 300,000,000 to 500,000,000. This amendment will provide
Dominion Resources with the shares it needs for issuance under the merger
agreement and to maintain a reserve of shares for general corporate purposes.
After the mergers, Dominion Resources will have approximately 250,000,000
authorized but unissued shares for use in connection with its Dominion Direct
Investment stock purchase program, compensation and benefit programs for its
officers, directors and employees, and for other general corporate purposes.
Listing of Dominion Resources Common Stock (page 57)
Dominion Resources common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol "D". Dominion Resources will obtain approval from the New York Stock
Exchange for listing of additional shares of Dominion Resources common stock to
be issued as a result of the mergers.
If the mergers are completed, the CNG common stock will be delisted from the
New York Stock Exchange.
Comparison of Shareholder Rights (page 80)
Holders of CNG common stock who receive Dominion Resources common stock in the
Second Merger will become holders of Dominion Resources common stock and will
have rights as Dominion Resources shareholders that are different from rights
they had as CNG shareholders.
Resales of Dominion Resources Common Stock (page 57)
Generally, shares of Dominion Resources common stock received in the mergers
will be freely transferable. However, resales of shares held by CNG
"affiliates" under applicable federal securities laws (generally directors,
certain executive officers and shareholders owning ten percent or more) will be
restricted.
Opinions of Financial Advisors (page 36)
Dominion Resources
Dominion Resources' financial advisor, Lehman Brothers Inc., gave an opinion to
the Dominion Resources Board of Directors as of May 11, 1999, that, based on
Lehman Brothers' analysis, the consideration to be paid to the CNG shareholders
was fair to Dominion Resources from a financial point of view. The opinion is
attached as Annex B to this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
CNG
CNG's financial advisor, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated,
gave an opinion to the CNG Board of Directors as of May 11, 1999, that, based
on Merrill Lynch's analysis, the merger consideration to be received by CNG
shareholders was fair from a financial point of view to the holders of CNG
common stock. The opinion is attached as Annex C to this joint proxy
statement/prospectus.
Appraisal Rights (page 48)
If the Second Merger is completed, CNG shareholders who do not vote to approve
and adopt the merger agreement and who otherwise comply with Section 262 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law will be entitled to appraisal rights under
Delaware Law.
Dominion Resources shareholders have no dissenters' rights of appraisal in
connection with the mergers.
7
<PAGE>
Risk Factors
RISK FACTORS
Shareholders of Dominion Resources and CNG should consider carefully all the
information contained in this joint proxy statement/prospectus, including the
following matters:
Effects of Fluctuations in Trading Price of Dominion Resources Common Stock
The exchange ratio relating to the CNG shareholders' stock election in the
Second Merger will be determined using the average market price of Dominion
Resources common stock over a 20 day trading period ending ten business days
before the Effective Time. Accordingly, it is possible that the value of the
merger consideration at the Effective Time for a CNG shareholder receiving
Dominion Resources common stock will be higher or lower than $66.60 per share
of CNG common stock depending on the direction of the price movement of
Dominion Resources common stock after the exchange ratio is calculated. There
can be no assurance that the price of Dominion Resources common stock will not
decline from the market price used in calculating the exchange ratio. See THE
MERGER AGREEMENT--Effects of the Mergers. In addition, the impact on trading
prices of Dominion Resources common stock during the 20 trading day pricing
period resulting from the election available to Dominion Resources shareholders
in the First Merger cannot be determined.
Dominion Resources common stock that is converted to cash in the First Merger
will be exchanged at the fixed rate of $43.00 per share. There will be a
significant time delay between the date when shareholders vote on the proposed
mergers at the special meetings, the date when shareholders make their
elections just prior to the completion of the mergers and the Effective Time.
The trading price of Dominion Resources common stock will fluctuate during this
period and is highly likely to be higher or lower than $43.00 on any of these
dates. As a result, shareholders receiving cash in the First Merger may receive
more or less than the trading price of their shares on the meeting date or
their election date or at the Effective Time.
Cash and/or Stock Paid in the Mergers May be Different Than What Shareholders
Elect
Shareholders making elections for cash or stock may not receive what they
elect for the following reasons. The aggregate amount of cash Dominion
Resources will pay in exchange for Dominion Resources common stock in the First
Merger is fixed. The aggregate number of shares of CNG common stock Dominion
Resources will exchange in the Second Merger for cash is fixed. If Dominion
Resources common stock is over-subscribed by the shareholders of either
company, a shareholder of that company who elected Dominion Resources common
stock may receive part of his or her consideration in the form of cash. If cash
is over-subscribed by the shareholders of either company, a shareholder of that
company who elected cash may receive part of his or her consideration in the
form of Dominion Resources common stock.
In addition, Dominion Resources may reallocate the cash and shares of
Dominion Resources common stock to more closely follow the actual elections of
shareholders. Dominion Resources is also required to reduce the amount of cash
and increase the number of shares issued to the extent necessary to maintain
the desired tax treatment of the Second Merger.
The Combined Company will Experience Increased Leverage
Dominion Resources plans initially to finance the cash component of the
mergers with an expanded commercial paper program. After the closing of the
mergers, Dominion Resources anticipates replacing a significant portion of the
commercial paper program with proceeds from the issuance of debt, preferred
and/or convertible securities and the sale of non-core assets. See THE
MERGERS--Source of Funds. As a result of the acquisition financing, the
consolidated capital structure will approximate 60 to 65 percent debt
securities, 5 to 10 percent preferred securities, and 30 to 35 percent common
equity, a more leveraged capital structure than either Dominion Resources or
CNG has at present. The consolidated capital structure of the combined company
is expected to improve as debt levels are significantly reduced through cash
generated by the issuances of preferred and/or convertible securities and asset
divestitures referenced above, as well as from cash flow from operations.
Management of Dominion Resources believes Dominion Resources will have access
to
8
<PAGE>
Risk Factors
many sources and types of short-term and long-term capital financing at
reasonable rates and that any asset divestitures can be accomplished in a
timely fashion and at appropriate pricing. However, the forms of such
financings may contain covenants that affect the flexibility of the combined
company with respect to possible future transactions. The timing and
consideration for any asset sales are also uncertain. Therefore, management is
unable to predict with certainty when or whether the capital structure of the
combined company will return to Dominion Resources pre-merger levels.
Uncertainties in Integrating Business Operations of the Two Companies
In deciding that the mergers are in the best interests of their respective
shareholders, the Dominion Resources and CNG Boards of Directors considered
the potential complementary effects of combining the two companies' assets,
personnel and operating skills. Integrating businesses, however, involves a
number of special risks, including the possibility that management may be
distracted from regular business concerns by the need to integrate operations,
unforeseen difficulties in integrating operations and systems, problems
assimilating and retaining employees, challenges in retaining existing
customers and acquiring new ones and potential adverse short-term effects on
operating results. In addition, there can be no assurance that the combined
company will realize the benefits anticipated from the mergers. For a
discussion of other factors to consider, see THE MERGER--Reasons for the
Mergers and --Recommendations of the Boards of Directors.
9
<PAGE>
Comparative Market Price
Information
COMPARATIVE MARKET PRICE INFORMATION
Dominion Resources
The Dominion Resources shares are listed for trading on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol "D". The following table sets forth, for the fiscal
quarters indicated, the dividends paid and the high and low sales prices of
Dominion Resources shares as reported under the New York Stock Exchange
Composite Transactions Reports in The Wall Street Journal.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Dominion Resources
----------------------------
High Low Dividends
---- --- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
1996
First Quarter............................. 44 3/8 37 5/8 $0.645
Second Quarter............................ 40 1/4 37 $0.645
Third Quarter............................. 40 36 7/8 $0.645
Fourth Quarter............................ 41 37 1/8 $0.645
1997
First Quarter............................. 41 3/8 35 1/2 $0.645
Second Quarter............................ 36 3/4 33 1/4 $0.645
Third Quarter............................. 38 1/4 35 5/16 $0.645
Fourth Quarter............................ 42 7/8 34 7/8 $0.645
1998
First Quarter............................. 42 15/16 39 3/8 $0.645
Second Quarter............................ 42 1/16 37 13/16 $0.645
Third Quarter............................. 44 15/16 39 5/16 $0.645
Fourth Quarter............................ 48 15/16 44 3/8 $0.645
1999
First Quarter............................. 46 9/16 36 15/16 $0.645
Second Quarter (through May 18, 1999)..... 41 15/16 37 --
</TABLE>
CNG
The CNG shares are listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange under
the symbol "CNG". The following table sets forth, for the fiscal quarters
indicated, the dividends paid and the high and low sales prices of CNG shares
as reported under the New York Stock Exchange Composite Transactions Reports in
The Wall Street Journal.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CNG
----------------------------
High Low Dividends
---- --- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
1996
First Quarter............................. 47 1/8 41 1/2 $0.485
Second Quarter............................ 52 1/4 43 1/2 $0.485
Third Quarter............................. 57 1/8 49 $0.485
Fourth Quarter............................ 59 5/8 51 1/8 $0.485
1997
First Quarter............................. 57 3/4 49 5/8 $0.485
Second Quarter............................ 54 7/8 47 3/8 $0.485
Third Quarter............................. 60 11/16 53 9/16 $0.485
Fourth Quarter............................ 60 15/16 52 5/16 $0.485
1998
First Quarter............................. 60 1/2 53 1/4 $0.485
Second Quarter............................ 60 1/8 54 15/16 $0.485
Third Quarter............................. 59 41 11/16 $0.485
Fourth Quarter............................ 55 15/16 50 7/16 $0.485
1999
First Quarter............................. 57 3/4 48 11/16 $0.485
Second Quarter (through May 18, 1999)..... 60 13/16 48 1/2 $0.485
</TABLE>
10
<PAGE>
Comparative Market Price Information
Per Share Data
The information presented in the table below represents closing sale prices
reported under the New York Stock Exchange Composite Transaction Reports in The
Wall Street Journal for both Dominion Resources shares and CNG shares, on
February 18, 1999, the date upon which the transaction was initially valued;
February 19, 1999, the last trading day immediately preceding the public
announcement of the proposed merger; May 10, 1999, the last trading day
immediately preceding the public announcement of the revised merger agreement;
and on May 18, 1999, the last practicable day for which closing sale prices
were available at the time of the mailing of this joint proxy
statement/prospectus. Dominion Resources and CNG shareholders should obtain
current market quotations of the Dominion Resources shares and the CNG shares.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Dominion
Resources CNG
Shares Price Shares Price
------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C>
February 18, 1999............................... 43 13/16 52 3/4
February 19, 1999............................... 42 1/4 56 1/4
May 10, 1999.................................... 40 15/16 58 3/8
May 18, 1999.................................... 41 5/8 60
</TABLE>
Following the consummation of the mergers, CNG shares will cease to be traded
on the New York Stock Exchange.
11
<PAGE>
Selected Financial Data
SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
Dominion Resources and CNG are providing the following financial information
to aid you in your analysis of the financial aspects of the mergers. This
information is only a summary and you should read it in conjunction with the
historical consolidated financial statements of Dominion Resources and CNG and
the related notes contained in Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q that Dominion Resources and CNG have previously filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. See WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
on page 96.
Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data of Dominion Resources
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Three Months
Year Ended December 31, Ended
--------------------------------------- ---------------
(in millions--except per
share amounts) 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 3/31/98 3/31/99
- - ------------------------ ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Income Statement Data
Operating Revenues...... $ 4,491 $ 4,633 $ 4,815 $ 7,262 $ 6,086 $ 1,774 $ 1,293
Operating Expenses...... 3,453 3,607 3,716 5,789 4,995 1,393 980
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Operating Income........ $ 1,038 $ 1,026 $ 1,099 $ 1,473 $ 1,091 $ 381 $ 313
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
Income before
Extraordinary Item..... $ 478 $ 425 $ 472 $ 399 $ 536 $ 140 $ 139
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
Net Income.............. $ 478 $ 425 $ 472 $ 399 $ 536 $ 140 $ (116)
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
Earnings per share
(basic and diluted)
Income before
Extraordinary Item..... $ 2.81 $ 2.45 $ 2.65 $ 2.15 $ 2.75 $ 0.72 $ 0.72
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
Net Income............. $ 2.81 $ 2.45 $ 2.65 $ 2.15 $ 2.75 $ 0.72 $ (0.60)
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
Dividends Declared per
Share.................. $ 2.55 $ 2.58 $ 2.58 $ 2.58 $ 2.58 $ 0.645 $ 0.645
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
<CAPTION>
At December 31, At March 31,
--------------------------------------- ---------------
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1998 1999
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance Sheet Data
Total Assets............ $13,562 $13,903 $14,896 $20,165 $17,517 $20,529 $17,488
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
Capitalization:
Long-term Debt(*)...... $ 5,110 $ 5,033 $ 5,478 $ 8,810 $ 6,694 $ 8,928 $ 6,949
Obligated Mandatorily
Redeemable
Preferred Securities of
Subsidiary Trusts..... 135 135 385 385 385 385
Preferred Stocks of
Subsidiary:
Subject to Mandatory
Redemption............ 222 180 180 180 180 180 180
Not Subject to
Mandatory Redemption.. 594 509 509 509 509 509 509
Common Shareholders'
Equity................ 4,586 4,742 4,915 5,041 5,315 5,370 4,968
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Total Capitalization.... $10,512 $10,599 $11,217 $14,925 $13,083 $15,372 $12,991
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
Obligations Under
Capital Leases......... $ 4 $ 3 $ 2 $ 10 $ 17 $ 15 $ 15
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
Book Value per Share.... $ 26.60 $ 26.88 $ 27.13 $ 26.84 $ 27.33 $ 25.41 $ 25.87
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
</TABLE>
- - --------
(*) Including portion due within one year.
See Notes to Selected Historical and Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed
Consolidated Financial Data.
12
<PAGE>
Selected Financial Data
Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data of CNG
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Three Months
Year Ended December 31, Ended
-------------------------------------- ----------------
(in millions--except per
share amounts) 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 3/31/98 3/31/99
- - ------------------------ ------ ------ ------ ------- ------ ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Income Statement Data
Operating Revenues...... $3,036 $2,504 $2,955 $ 3,177 $2,760 $ 999 $1,046
Operating Expenses(*)... 2,775 2,352 2,555 2,767 2,393 834 879
------ ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------
Operating Income........ $ 261 $ 152 $ 400 $ 410 $ 367 $ 165 $ 167
====== ====== ====== ======= ====== ====== ======
Income from Continuing
Operations............. $ 183 $ 29 $ 309 $ 319 $ 288 $ 138 $ 139
Discontinued
Operations............. (8) (11) (15) (49) (60)
------ ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------
Net Income.............. $ 183 $ 21 $ 298 $ 304 $ 239 $ 78 $ 139
====== ====== ====== ======= ====== ====== ======
Earnings per Share
(basic):
Continuing
Operations........... $ 1.97 $ 0.31 $ 3.29 $ 3.36 $ 3.03 $ 1.48 $ 1.46
Discontinued
Operations........... (0.08) (0.12) (0.15) (0.51) (0.64)
------ ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------
Net Income............ $ 1.97 $ 0.23 $ 3.17 $ 3.21 $ 2.52 $ 0.84 $ 1.46
====== ====== ====== ======= ====== ====== ======
Earnings per Share
(diluted):
Continuing
Operations........... $ 1.97 $ 0.31 $ 3.24 $ 3.30 $ 3.00 $ 1.45 $ 1.44
Discontinued
Operations........... (0.08) (0.11) (0.15) (0.51) (0.63)
------ ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------
Net Income............ $ 1.97 $ 0.23 $ 3.13 $ 3.15 $ 2.49 $ 0.82 $ 1.44
====== ====== ====== ======= ====== ====== ======
Dividends Declared per
Share.................. $ 1.94 $ 1.94 $ 1.94 $ 1.94 $ 1.94 $0.485 $0.485
====== ====== ====== ======= ====== ====== ======
<CAPTION>
At December 31, At March 31,
-------------------------------------- ----------------
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1998 1999
------ ------ ------ ------- ------ ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance Sheet Data
Total Assets............ $5,519 $5,418 $6,001 $ 6,314 $6,362 $6,045 $6,230
====== ====== ====== ======= ====== ====== ======
Capitalization:
Long-term Debt(**).... $1,156 $1,302 $1,530 $1,707 $1,491 $1,459 $1,487
Common Shareholders'
Equity............... 2,184 2,046 2,205 2,358 2,400 2,394 2,488
------ ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------
Total Capitalization.... $3,340 $3,348 $3,735 $ 4,065 $3,891 $3,853 $3,975
====== ====== ====== ======= ====== ====== ======
Book Value per Share.... $23.48 $21.86 $23.23 $ 24.66 $25.14 $25.01 $26.09
====== ====== ====== ======= ====== ====== ======
</TABLE>
- - --------
(*) Including provision for income taxes.
(**) Including portion due within one year.
See Notes to Selected Historical and Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed
Consolidated Financial Data.
13
<PAGE>
Selected Financial
Data
SELECTED UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The following selected unaudited pro forma combined condensed consolidated
financial data gives effect to the mergers. The pro forma adjustments are based
upon available information and certain assumptions that management believes are
reasonable. The selected unaudited pro forma combined condensed consolidated
financial data are presented for illustrative purposes only and are not
necessarily indicative of the operating results or financial condition of the
combined company that would have occurred had the mergers occurred at the
beginning for the periods presented, nor are the selected unaudited pro forma
combined condensed consolidated financial data necessarily indicative of future
operating results or financial position of the combined company. The selected
unaudited pro forma combined condensed consolidated financial data (i) have
been derived from and should be read in conjunction with the UNAUDITED PRO
FORMA COMBINED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA and the related notes
included elsewhere in this joint proxy statement/ prospectus and (ii) should be
read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of Dominion
Resources and CNG incorporated by reference in this joint proxy statement/
prospectus.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Three Months
Year Ended Ended
December 31, March 31,
1998 1999
------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C>
Income Statement Data
Operating Revenues.................................... $8,846 $ 2,339
Operating Expenses.................................... 7,521 1,865
------ ---------
Operating Income...................................... $1,325 $ 474
====== =========
Income from Continuing Operations..................... $ 474 $ 180
====== =========
Earnings per share--basic
Income from Continuing Operations................... $ 1.88 $ 0.71
====== =========
Earnings per share--diluted
Income from Continuing Operations................... $ 1.87 $ 0.71
====== =========
As of
March 31,
Balance Sheet Data 1999
---------
Total Assets.......................................... $ 28,029
=========
Capitalization:
Long-term Debt(*)................................... $ 8,436
Preferred Securities of Subsidiary Trusts........... 385
Preferred Stocks of Subsidiary:
Subject to Mandatory Redemption................... 180
Not Subject to Mandatory Redemption............... 509
Common Shareholders' Equity......................... 7,540
---------
Total Capitalization.................................. $ 17,050
=========
Book Value per Share.................................. $ 30.14
=========
</TABLE>
- - --------
(*) Including portion due within one year.
See Notes to Selected Historical and Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed
Consolidated Financial Data.
14
<PAGE>
Selected Financial Data
NOTES TO SELECTED HISTORICAL AND UNAUDITED PRO FORMA
COMBINED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
1. Certain revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities of CNG have been
reclassified to conform with Dominion Resources' presentation.
2. Dominion Resources announced in November 1996 that its indirect
subsidiary, DR Investments (UK) PLC, had made an offer to purchase East
Midlands Electricity plc (East Midlands) for approximately $2.2 billion. East
Midlands is a regional electricity company based in the Nottingham area of the
United Kingdom (UK). The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase and East
Midlands was included in Dominion Resources consolidated financial information
until it was sold in July 1998.
In the third quarter of 1997, East Midlands recorded a liability of
approximately $157 million to reflect the one-time windfall tax levied by the
UK government. The tax was levied on regional electric companies in the UK and
was based on the privatized utilities' excess profits.
In July 1998, Dominion Resources sold East Midlands in a transaction valued
at $3.2 billion. The sale resulted in a gain of $332.2 million or $200.7
million, net of tax.
3. In August 1998, the Virginia State Corporation Commission approved a
settlement by Order which resolved Virginia Power's outstanding base rate
proceedings. Virginia Power is Dominion Resources' regulated electric utility.
The settlement defines a new regulatory framework for Virginia Power's
transition to a competitive environment. The Order included rate refunds and
the write-off of regulatory assets which reduced after-tax earnings by $201
million in the second quarter of 1998.
On March 25, 1999, the Governor of Virginia signed into law legislation
establishing a detailed plan to restructure the electric utility industry in
Virginia. The provisions of the Virginia legislation provide an opportunity to
recover generation-related costs, including certain regulatory assets, through
capped rates prior to July 2007. In accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, such generation-related regulatory assets will continue
to be recognized until they are recovered through capped rates. Generation-
related assets and liabilities that will not be recovered through the capped
rates were written off in the first quarter of 1999, resulting in an after-tax
charge to earnings of $254.8 million.
4. During 1998, CNG discontinued its wholesale trading and marketing of
natural gas and electricity, including integrated energy management. On July
31, 1998, CNG's sale of the capital stock of CNG Energy Services Corporation,
formerly a wholly-owned subsidiary, to Sempra Energy Trading, a subsidiary of
Sempra Energy, was finalized. Proceeds of $37.4 million were received from the
sale of the stock, as adjusted for working capital items. CNG's transition out
of the wholesale gas business was substantially complete at December 31, 1998.
CNG recognized losses from discontinued operations, net of applicable tax
benefits, of $11.1 million, $14.5 million and $17.2 million for the years 1996,
1997 and 1998, respectively. In addition, during 1998 CNG recognized a loss on
disposal of the discontinued operations, including a provision for operating
losses during the phase out period, of $31.7 million, net of applicable tax
benefit. These amounts are reflected in CNG's historical condensed consolidated
financial data included elsewhere in this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
15
<PAGE>
Forward-Looking Statements
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This joint proxy statement/prospectus, and the documents which are
incorporated herein by reference (see WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION),
include various forward-looking statements about Dominion Resources, CNG and
the combined company that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-
looking statements include the information concerning future financial
performance, business strategy, projected costs and plans and objectives of
Dominion Resources, CNG and the combined company set forth under JOINT PROXY
STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS SUMMARY and THE MERGERS. Statements preceded by, followed
by or that otherwise include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates,"
"intends," "estimates," "plans" or similar expressions are generally forward-
looking in nature and not historical facts.
Actual future results for Dominion Resources, CNG and the combined company
could differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking
statements. This is particularly true because Dominion Resources and CNG
participate in an industry that is in transition. It is characterized by
increasing consolidation, growing deregulation and heightened competition. In
addition, the following important factors, as well as others discussed
elsewhere in this joint proxy statement/prospectus and the documents
incorporated by reference, are among those that could cause the actual results
to differ from the forward-looking statements:
. the effect of the mergers on earnings and cash flow;
. the combined company's ability to successfully operate its electric and
gas distribution operations;
. electric load and customer growth;
. abnormal weather conditions;
. available sources and cost of fuel and generating capacity;
. the speed and degree to which competition enters the power generation,
wholesale and retail sectors of the electric utility industry;
. the year 2000 technology issues and costs;
. state and federal regulatory and/or legislative initiatives;
. the economic climate and growth in the service territories of Dominion
Resources and CNG following the mergers;
. inflationary trends, capital market conditions and interest rates;
. leverage and holding company issues;
. rate, environmental, energy and other regulatory developments;
. uncertainties related to doing business outside the U.S.;
. exploration, development and operating uncertainties of geothermal and
gas resources;
. deregulation and natural gas and electric industry restructuring issues;
and
. a significant delay in the expected completion of, and unexpected
consequences resulting from, the mergers.
Most of these factors are difficult to accurately predict and are generally
beyond the control of Dominion Resources and CNG.
The areas of risk described above should be considered in connection with
any written or oral forward-looking statements that may be made after the date
of this joint proxy statement/prospectus by Dominion Resources or CNG or
anyone acting for either or both of them. Except for their ongoing obligations
to disclose material information under the federal securities laws, neither
Dominion Resources or CNG undertakes any obligation to release publicly any
revisions to any forward-looking statements to report events or circumstances
after the date of the joint proxy statement/prospectus or the occurrence of
unanticipated events.
16
<PAGE>
The Special Meetings
................................................................................
................................................................................
................................................................................
................................................................................
THE SPECIAL MEETINGS OF DOMINION RESOURCES AND CNG SHAREHOLDERS
The Boards of Directors of Dominion Resources and CNG are soliciting your
proxy for special meetings of their shareholders. Dominion Resources
shareholders must approve both mergers and CNG shareholders must approve the
Second Merger as a condition to either merger closing.
Matters Related to the Meetings
............................................................
Dominion Resources
Meeting CNG Meeting
............................................................
Time and
Place Wednesday, June 30 at Wednesday, June 30 at
9:30 a.m. McGuire, 9:30 a.m. Tappan Hill,
Woods, Battle & Boothe 81 Highland Avenue,
LLP, 901 E. Cary Tarrytown, New York
Street, One James
Center-- 4th floor
Richmond, Virginia
............................................................
Record
Date All shareholders who All shareholders who
owned stock at the owned stock at the
close of business on close of business on
April 29, 1999, are May 13, 1999, are
entitled to vote at the entitled to vote at
special meeting. There the special meeting.
were 191,960,866 shares There were 95,812,128
of Dominion Resources shares of CNG common
common stock stock outstanding on
outstanding on that that date.
date.
............................................................
Quorum
A majority of the A majority of the
shares outstanding on shares outstanding on
April 29, 1999, May 13, 1999,
constitutes a quorum constitutes a quorum
for this meeting. for this meeting.
Abstentions and shares Abstentions and shares
held by a broker or held by a broker or
nominee (broker shares) nominee (broker
that are voted on any shares) that are voted
matter are included in on any matter are
determining a quorum. included in
determining a quorum.
............................................................
Matters . Approve and adopt the Approve and adopt of
to be Amended and Restated the Amended and
Voted on Agreement and Plan of Restated Agreement and
Merger by and between Plan of Merger by and
Dominion Resources, between Dominion
Inc. and Consolidated Resources, Inc. and
Natural Gas Company, Consolidated Natural
dated as of May 11, Gas Company dated as
1999 (the merger of May 11, 1999 (the
agreement) with merger agreement).
respect to the First
Merger;
. Approve and adopt the
merger agreement with
respect to the Second
Merger, including the
related issuance of
Dominion Resources
common stock; and
. Approve the amendment
to the Articles of
Incorporation to
increase the
authorized shares to
500,000,000.
............................................................
Required Approve and adopt of Approval and adoption
Vote each of the matters requires the
requires that a affirmative vote of
majority of the shares holders of a majority
represented at the of CNG's outstanding
meeting vote in favor shares. Broker shares
of such matter. not voted and votes
Abstentions and broker withheld will be
non-votes will have the considered a vote
same effect as a vote against approval and
against each matter. adoption of the merger
agreement.
............................................................
How to
Vote Complete instructions Complete instructions
for voting your proxy for voting your proxy
can be found on your can be found on your
proxy card included proxy card included
with this joint proxy with this joint proxy
statement/prospectus. statement/prospectus.
You may vote in person You may vote in person
at the special meeting at the special meeting
or by proxy. You have or by completing the
three ways to vote by proxy card and mailing
proxy: it back to us.
. connect to the
Internet at
www.votefast.com*;
. call 1-800-250-9081*;
or
. complete the proxy
card and mail it back
to us.
*Not for beneficial
owners
............................................................
17
<PAGE>
The Special
Meetings
................................................................................
................................................................................
................................................................................
................................................................................
............................................................
Dominion Resources
Meeting CNG Meeting
............................................................
Rights;
RevocationEach of your shares You will have one vote
ofwill be counted as one for each share of CNG
Proxiesvote. If you vote your common stock. If you
proxy properly, we will vote your proxy
follow your properly, we will
instructions. We urge follow your
you to mark the boxes instructions. We urge
on your proxy to you to mark the box on
indicate how to vote your proxy to indicate
your shares. If you how to vote your
return a properly shares. If you return
executed proxy with no a properly executed
voting instructions, proxy with no voting
the shares will be instructions, the
voted FOR all three shares will be voted
items presented. If you FOR approval and
vote and change your adoption of the merger
mind on any issue, you agreement. If you vote
may revoke your proxy and change your mind,
at any time before the you may revoke your
close of voting at the proxy at any time
Special Meeting in any before the close of
of the following four voting at the special
ways: meeting. There are
three ways to revoke
your proxy:
. connect to the
Internet at
www.votefast.com*;
.file a later dated
executed proxy;
.write to our
.call 1-800-250-9081*; Corporate Secretary;
or
.write to our Corporate
Secretary; or .vote your shares at
the special meeting.
.vote your shares at
the special meeting.
*Not for beneficial
owners
............................................................
Registered
Shareholders
and Plan
Participants
Your proxy card shows Your proxy card shows
the number of full and the number of full and
fractional shares you fractional shares you
own. If you are a own. If you are a
participant in our participant in the CNG
Dominion Direct Dividend Reinvestment
Investment stock Plan, the number also
purchase plan, the includes shares we
number includes shares hold in your Plan
we hold in your account. All shares
Dominion Direct will be voted
Investment account. All according to your
shares will be voted instructions if you
according to your properly vote your
instructions if you proxy. If you sign
properly vote your your proxy and do not
proxy by one of the make a selection, it
methods listed above. will be voted FOR
If you sign your proxy approval and adoption
and do not make a of the merger
selection, it will be agreement.
voted as recommended by
the Board of Directors.
If you are a Dominion
Direct Investment
participant and do not
vote your proxy, we
will vote all shares
held in that account
FOR all three items
presented.
............................................................
18
<PAGE>
The Special Meetings
................................................................................
................................................................................
................................................................................
................................................................................
............................................................
Dominion Resources
Meeting CNG Meeting
............................................................
Employee
Plan
Participants
You will receive a
request for voting You will receive a
instructions from proxy card and
Mellon Bank, N.A., the instructions from the
Employee Savings Plan Trustees of the
trustee. The share various employee
amounts listed on that benefit plans. The
form include the full share amounts listed
and fractional shares on that form include
in your Employee the full shares in
Savings Plan account. your employee benefit
You may instruct Mellon accounts. You may
Bank by: instruct the Trustees
by returning your
proxy card in the
enclosed envelope (not
to CNG).
. connecting to the
Internet at
www.votefast.com;
Complete instructions
can be found on the
proxy card included
with this joint proxy
statement/prospectus.
. calling 1-800-250-
9081; or
. returning your Voting
Instructions in the
enclosed envelope The Trustees will vote
(not to Dominion according to your
Resources). instructions and will
keep your vote
confidential. In the
absence of
instructions, the
Trustees will vote
unvoted shares in the
same proportion as
shares voted pursuant
to confidential
instructions.
Complete instructions
can be found on the
Voting Instruction Card
included with the joint
proxy
statement/prospectus.
Whichever method you
choose, Mellon Bank
will vote according to
your instructions and
will keep your vote
confidential. If you do
not vote your Employee
Savings Plan shares,
Mellon Bank generally
will vote your shares
according to the Board
of Directors'
recommendations.
............................................................
Beneficial If your shares are held
Owners in street name with If your shares are
(Broker your broker, please held in street name
Shares) follow the instructions with your broker,
found on the Voting please follow the
Instruction Card instructions found on
enclosed with this the proxy card
joint proxy enclosed with this
statement/prospectus. joint proxy
statement/prospectus.
............................................................
Solicitation
Dominion Resources has CNG has retained
retained Georgeson & Innisfree M&A
Co., Inc., a proxy Incorporated, a proxy
solicitation firm, at a solicitation firm, at
total estimated cost of a total estimated cost
$17,500 plus of $75,000 plus
reimbursement of reimbursement of
expenses, to assist in expenses, to assist in
the solicitation of the solicitation of
proxies. In addition, proxies. In addition,
Dominion Resources CNG employees may
employees may telephone telephone shareholders
shareholders after the after the initial
initial solicitation. solicitation. We will
We will also request also request banks,
banks, brokers and brokers and other
other intermediaries to intermediaries to send
send this joint proxy this joint proxy
statement/prospectus to statement/prospectus
and obtain proxies from to and obtain proxies
beneficial owners and from the beneficial
will reimburse those owners and will
institutions for their reimburse those
reasonable expenses in institutions for their
so doing. reasonable expenses in
so doing.
............................................................
19
<PAGE>
The Special
Meetings
................................................................................
................................................................................
................................................................................
................................................................................
............................................................
Dominion Resources CNG Meeting
Meeting
............................................................
Tabulation
Dominion Resources has CNG has retained
retained Corporate Innisfree M & A
Election Services, Inc. Incorporated to
to tabulate the proxies tabulate the proxies
and to assist with the and to assist with the
special meeting. special meeting.
............................................................
Dominion Resources and CNG shareholders should not send stock certificates to
either company until they receive instructions from the Exchange Agent.
Appraisal Rights
If the mergers are completed, CNG shareholders who do not vote for the
adoption of the merger agreement and who otherwise comply with the procedures
of Section 262 of the Delaware General Corporation Law will be entitled to
appraisal rights under Delaware law. See THE MERGERS--Appraisal Rights of CNG
Shareholders.
Under Virginia law, Dominion Resources shareholders will not be entitled to
appraisal rights. Under certain circumstances, the Virginia Stock Corporation
Act entitles a shareholder to exercise appraisal rights upon a merger or
consolidation. Appraisal rights would be available under Virginia law if
Dominion Resources shareholders were required by the terms of the agreement to
accept consideration other than, among other things, shares of stock of any
corporation listed on a national securities exchange or cash, or a combination
thereof. Since holders of Dominion Resources common stock will receive either
cash, shares of stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or both under the
terms of the merger agreement, they are not entitled to appraisal rights under
Virginia law.
20
<PAGE>
The Mergers
THE MERGERS
Overview
The merger agreement provides for a two-step merger. In the first step,
Dominion Resources will merge with New Sub I, its wholly owned subsidiary, and
Dominion Resources will be the surviving corporation and will retain its
existing structure. The first step is referred to as the First Merger. The
second step, referred to as the Second Merger, involves either:
. CNG merging with and into New Sub II, a wholly owned Delaware subsidiary
of Dominion Resources, with New Sub II as the surviving company; or
. CNG merging directly into Dominion Resources. In that case, Dominion
Resources will be the surviving entity.
The surviving company in the Second Merger will assume all the rights and
obligations of CNG.
In this document, we refer to the time when the First Merger is completed as
the "Effective Time of the First Merger", and to the time when the Second
Merger is completed as the "Effective Time of the Second Merger". The time when
both mergers are completed is referred to as the "Effective Time."
First Merger
At the Effective Time of the First Merger, each issued and outstanding share
of Dominion Resources common stock, without par value, will be converted, at
the shareholder's election, into:
(i) $43.00 in cash; or
(ii) one share of Dominion Resources common stock,
in each case subject to proration if Dominion Resources shareholders elect to
receive more or less than $1,251,055,526 (plus any cash paid for fractional
shares), the aggregate amount to be paid in cash to Dominion Resources
shareholders. Dominion Resources has the option to increase the amount of cash
available for the cash election in the First Merger to an amount equal to
$1,668,400,000 to more closely follow the actual elections of Dominion
Resources shareholders as long as the increase in the cash consideration does
not affect the desired tax treatment of the Second Merger. When completed, the
First Merger will reduce Dominion Resources shares outstanding so that the
Second Merger is less dilutive to earnings for Dominion Resources shares
outstanding after the mergers.
Second Merger
At the Effective Time of the Second Merger, each issued and outstanding share
of CNG common stock, $2.75 par value, will be converted, at the shareholder's
election, into:
(i) $66.60 in cash; or
(ii) a number of shares of Dominion Resources common stock equal to the CNG
Exchange Ratio, as defined below, plus cash equal to 1.52 times the
excess, if any, of $43.816 over the Average Price (the Top-Up Amount),
in each case subject to proration if CNG shareholders elect to exchange more or
less than 38,159,060 shares of CNG common stock for cash (including any
fractional shares exchanged for cash). However, Dominion Resources may
reallocate the cash and shares of Dominion Resources stock to be received by
CNG shareholders to more closely follow the actual elections of the CNG
shareholders as long as the reallocation does not affect the desired tax
treatment of the Second Merger. In addition, Dominion Resources is required to
reduce the amount of cash and increase the number of shares issued pursuant to
the Second Merger to the extent necessary to maintain the desired tax treatment
of the Second Merger.
21
<PAGE>
The Mergers
The "CNG Exchange Ratio" shall be equal to $66.60 divided by either (i) the
Average Price of Dominion Resources common stock if such Average Price is
greater than or equal to $43.816 or (ii) 1.52 if the Average Price of Dominion
Resources common stock is less than $43.816.
"Average Price" means the average of the closing prices on the New York Stock
Exchange for the 20 consecutive Trading Days during the period ending on the
tenth business day before closing.
"Trading Day" means a day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for
trading.
For a further discussion of the timing of the effect of the calculation of
the exchange ratio on what shareholders will receive, see RISK FACTORS.
Background to the Mergers
During late 1997 and early 1998, CNG reassessed its strategic plan in
response to business changes caused by slower than expected unbundling of the
gas and electric distribution businesses at the retail level and the company's
decision to exit the wholesale energy business. Management then discussed and
explored alternatives for increasing shareholder value with the CNG Board of
Directors at its meetings throughout 1998.
Throughout 1997 and the first half of 1998, Dominion Resources engaged in a
number of acquisition transactions and considered a variety of strategic
alternatives to enable it to compete and grow in the deregulating energy
industry. Among the strategic alternatives Dominion Resources considered was
the acquisition of regional gas or other electric utility companies. Dominion
Resources' growth strategy and specific possible acquisition candidates were
reviewed by the Dominion Resources Board of Directors at several meetings
during this period. The Dominion Resources Board of Directors encouraged
management to pursue a number of different strategic alternatives, including
investigating the desirability of a transaction with CNG.
During the fall of 1998, CNG conferred with Merrill Lynch on an ongoing basis
as one of its principal investment advisors. During that same period, Dominion
Resources was using Lehman Brothers informally to assist it in identifying and
evaluating opportunities in the industry. Both companies were also consulting
with their legal advisors during the fall of 1998 and early 1999 with respect
to matters covered in this discussion. CNG's principal legal advisor was Cahill
Gordon & Reindel (Cahill) and Dominion Resources' principal legal advisor
initially was LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, L.L.P. (LLG&M) and changed to
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett (ST&B) upon LLG&M's withdrawal based upon a
potential conflict with Columbia Energy Group (Columbia).
George A. Davidson, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CNG,
routinely met informally with leading industry executives throughout the summer
and fall of 1998 to exchange views on energy industry trends. At one such
dinner engagement, on September 8, 1998, Mr. Davidson and Thos. E. Capps,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dominion Resources, included a
discussion of their companies' respective business strategies in their
conversation.
The September 8, 1998 meeting was followed by several telephone conversations
between Mr. Davidson and Mr. Capps. On October 8, 1998, Mr. Davidson and Mr.
Capps met jointly with selected senior management and operating and marketing
personnel from both companies in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to discuss the
feasibility of locating new power generating facilities along CNG's pipeline
system. The discussion led to other examples of how synergy might be developed
between the two companies. On October 16, 1998, Dominion Resources' management
reviewed a possible business combination with CNG with its Organization,
Compensation and Nominating Committee (OC&N Committee) and the OC&N Committee
agreed that management should begin discussions with CNG.
On October 20, 1998, Stephen E. Williams, Senior Vice President and General
Counsel, and David M. Westfall, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer, of CNG met with Edgar M. Roach, Jr., Executive
22
<PAGE>
The Mergers
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and Thomas F. Farrell, II,
Executive Vice President--Corporate Affairs, of Dominion Resources. At this
meeting, Dominion Resources presented its views on the business rationale for a
combination of the two companies. Following this meeting, Dominion Resources
management conferred with its legal and investment banking advisors and, on
October 27, 1998, Dominion Resources sent a letter to CNG expressing its
interest in exploring a business combination with CNG.
On November 9 and 10, 1998, CNG management presented information to the CNG
Board of Directors related to strategic issues and the possibility of a merger
or other combination with a variety of energy companies, including Dominion
Resources. Following those meetings, CNG informed Dominion Resources that it
was not prepared to consider a transaction with Dominion Resources at that time
because it was still in the process of considering other strategic
alternatives.
An Ad Hoc Committee of the CNG Board of Directors, consisting of Richard P.
Simmons, Paul E. Lego, Steven A. Minter, and J. W. Connolly as an advisor, was
formed on November 10, 1998, to review business matters of the company. CNG
management, along with representatives of Merrill Lynch, met with the Ad Hoc
Committee on November 23, 1998, to review strategic alternatives available to
CNG. At that meeting, Merrill Lynch was asked to provide further analysis on a
possible combination of CNG with two gas and two electric companies, including
Dominion Resources.
On December 7, 1998, CNG management and the Ad Hoc Committee received a
presentation by Merrill Lynch regarding four potential merger partners which
represented different strategies. On December 8, 1998, the CNG Board agreed
that management ought to have additional discussions with Dominion Resources to
begin exploring a possible business combination. It was also considered
appropriate for Mr. Davidson to contact Mr. Capps to schedule further
discussions. On December 8, 1998, Mr. Davidson informed Mr. Capps of CNG's
willingness to have further discussions, and meetings were scheduled for
January 5, 1999. On December 17, 1998, Dominion Resources management updated
the Dominion Resources OC&N Committee on the status of the possible merger.
On January 5, 1999, CNG retained Merrill Lynch to act as its financial
advisor in connection with the proposed business combination with Dominion
Resources. Also on January 5, 1999, Mr. Capps and other senior Dominion
Resources executives, Mr. Davidson and Mr. Westfall and representatives from
Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch met in New York to discuss the potential
benefits of a business combination of CNG and Dominion Resources. Both
companies entered into confidentiality and standstill agreements with each
other.
On January 11, 1999, the Dominion Resources OC&N Committee met and received a
report on the January 5 meetings. Following review of the report, the OC&N
Committee supported management's continued discussion with CNG.
Dominion Resources formally engaged Lehman Brothers on January 11, 1999, with
respect to the merger with CNG. Also on January 11, 1999, Dominion Resources'
representatives, CNG's representatives and representatives of Lehman Brothers
and Merrill Lynch met in New York to review the potential business plan of a
combined entity.
During the period January 11, 1999, through January 15, 1999, representatives
of both companies met to gain a better understanding of their respective
business strategies and financial information and to begin negotiation of a
merger transaction.
On January 19, 1999, the CNG Board of Directors met to review data presented
by Merrill Lynch. The Board expressed concerns about a merger transaction with
Dominion Resources at that time, and asked management to gather additional
information. Dominion Resources was informed that CNG wished to defer further
merger discussions pending the receipt and analysis of additional information.
On January 21, 1999, Dominion Resources management updated the OC&N Committee
on these developments.
23
<PAGE>
The Mergers
On January 25, 1999, discussions were resumed among the companies' senior
management with more detailed information exchanged between CNG and Dominion
Resources concerning their respective plans for their unregulated businesses
and the details in their financial information. On February 4, 1999, CNG
management and Merrill Lynch met with the Ad Hoc Committee of the CNG Board
plus two other Board members, William S. Barrack and Raymond E. Galvin.
On February 9, 1999, the CNG Board of Directors met to discuss the merits of
the proposed transaction with Dominion Resources in general terms. Following
that discussion, Mr. Davidson and Mr. Simmons, Chairman of the Ad Hoc
Committee, were directed to meet with Mr. Capps, Mr. Farrell and Mr. Roach to
define the parameters of the merger. The Dominion Resources Board met on
February 11, 1999 and received presentations from management and Lehman
Brothers. The Dominion Resources Board of Directors endorsed going forward
with the merger discussions with CNG. Representatives of the companies met
again on February 12, 1999, and held discussions on the terms of the merger
agreement.
During the period February 15, 1999 through February 21, 1999,
representatives of the companies and their financial and legal advisors held
numerous meetings to conduct due diligence and negotiate the terms of the
merger. On February 18, 1999, Dominion Resources management met with the OC&N
Committee to discuss the proposed merger. The merger was approved by the
Dominion Resources Board of Directors on February 19, 1999, and, on that date,
Dominion Resources submitted a written offer to CNG.
On February 19, 1999, after receiving the Dominion Resources offer, the CNG
Board of Directors approved the merger subject to satisfaction on the part of
Mr. Davidson with respect to certain outstanding pooling-of-interests
accounting issues since the transaction then being discussed was to have been
accounted for as a pooling-of-interests. The CNG Board meeting was recessed in
anticipation of continuing on February 21, 1999.
On February 20, 1999, Mr. Davidson received a letter from Columbia, one of
the gas utilities that the Ad-Hoc Committee of the CNG Board of Directors had
considered at its meeting on November 23, 1998, expressing interest in a
business combination which would either take the form of an acquisition of CNG
for predominantly cash or a merger of equals on undefined terms. This proposal
was subject to due diligence, financing and other substantial contingencies.
On February 21, 1999, the CNG Board reconvened its meeting of February 19, was
informed that Mr. Davidson was satisfied with respect to the pooling-of-
interests accounting issues and received the report of Merrill Lynch on the
possible transaction proposed by Columbia as compared to the transaction with
Dominion Resources. The CNG Board unanimously reaffirmed its determination to
accept the Dominion Resources proposal. The merger agreement was executed and
delivered by both companies following the meeting of the CNG Board of
Directors.
The merger was announced on February 22, 1999.
On April 18, 1999, Oliver G. Richard III, Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Columbia, delivered a letter (the April 18 Letter) to Mr.
Davidson with a formal proposal (the Columbia Proposal) for a negotiated
merger transaction between CNG and Columbia. Shortly after delivery of the
letter to CNG, Columbia publicly announced its proposal.
The Columbia Proposal provided that CNG shareholders would receive $70 per
share of CNG common stock, consisting of $24.50 in shares of Columbia common
stock (with the actual number of shares based on Columbia's stock price at the
closing and subject to a customary two-way collar) and $45.50 in cash. In
addition, Columbia noted that its proposal was not subject to any financing
conditions. The April 18 Letter also referred to strategic benefits to be
achieved as a result of a combination of Columbia and CNG, including
significant cost savings and other synergies. Finally, the April 18 Letter
stated that if CNG did not respond favorably to the Columbia Proposal by May
3, 1999, Columbia would withdraw it.
CNG announced on April 18, 1999, that it would review the proposal and would
respond once a decision had been made. Pursuant to the terms of the merger
agreement, Mr. Davidson subsequently informed Mr. Capps of the Columbia
Proposal and Dominion Resources representatives were advised of new
developments relating to the Columbia Proposal promptly.
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The Mergers
In the days following the April 18, 1999 announcement of the Columbia
Proposal through May 11, 1999, CNG's directors and officers continued to
examine the Columbia Proposal and to consult with CNG's legal and financial
advisors concerning their options and obligations.
During late April and early May, 1999, Dominion Resources held numerous
meetings and phone conferences with its legal and financial advisors to
discuss the Columbia offer and its potential impact on the Dominion
Resources/CNG transaction.
On April 20, 1999, Dominion Resources verbally engaged Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter to serve as co-financial advisor along with Lehman Brothers with
respect to the possible acquisition or business combination with CNG.
On April 21 and 22, 1999, executive management of Dominion Resources met
with Lehman Brothers and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter.
On April 21, 1999, the CNG Board, together with its counsel and its
financial advisor, held a telephonic meeting at which the participants
discussed the Columbia Proposal and the options available to the CNG Board.
The CNG Board decided to request additional information from Columbia with
respect to its proposal. On the same day, Mr. Davidson sent a letter to Mr.
Richard requesting additional information regarding the Columbia Proposal.
On April 26, 1999, CNG received a letter from Columbia containing additional
details with respect to the Columbia Proposal, including information regarding
the "customary two-way collar" built into the Columbia Proposal. Columbia
proposed a collar based on Columbia share prices of between $57.50 and $38.60
(representing a 20% symmetrical collar around the closing price for Columbia
common stock on April 16, 1999, the last trading day prior to the announcement
of the Columbia Proposal). CNG held meetings with its legal and financial
advisors to review and discuss the information received from Columbia and
determine the next steps.
On April 27, 1999, Mr. Davidson sent a letter, with a form of
confidentiality and standstill agreement substantially similar to the Dominion
Resources confidentiality agreement attached, to Mr. Richard asking whether
Columbia would enter into that confidentiality agreement.
On April 27, 1999, Mr. Capps sent a letter to each member of the CNG Board
reemphasizing Dominion Resources' view that the agreed upon merger between
Dominion Resources and CNG had superior strategic, financial, civic and social
benefits. The letter also discussed certain views with respect to the Columbia
offer.
On April 28, 1999, Columbia responded in writing to the CNG request, noting
certain issues relating to the standstill provisions of the draft
confidentiality and standstill agreement. CNG, together with its financial and
legal advisors, reviewed and discussed the response and possible alternative
courses of action.
On April 30, 1999, the CNG Board held a telephonic meeting to review the
status of the Columbia Proposal. CNG's legal and financial advisors
participated in the meeting. CNG sent a second letter requesting additional
information regarding synergies and regulatory approvals to Columbia.
On April 30, 1999, Mr. Capps held a conference call with the Dominion
Resources Board to update them on the advice Dominion Resources had received
from its advisors with respect to the Columbia offer. He also updated the
Board on the progress of the Columbia offer to the extent Dominion Resources'
management had knowledge of such progress.
On May 3, 1999, Dominion Resources executed a written engagement letter with
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter to serve as co-financial advisor along with Lehman
Brothers with respect to the possible acquisition or business combination with
CNG.
On May 3, 1999, Columbia announced that it had extended its offer for CNG
for another week, to May 10, 1999, after responding to CNG's request for more
information. At this time, Columbia requested a meeting with CNG and its
advisors to discuss regulatory matters and provided a form of confidentiality
agreement it wanted CNG to sign.
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The Mergers
On May 4, 1999, CNG responded to Columbia's request and commented on the
confidentiality agreement.
On May 5, 1999, Columbia advised that it would not require a confidentiality
agreement from CNG in order to meet and provide the requested information on
regulatory approvals and synergies.
Mr. Capps held another update call with the Dominion Resources Board on May
5, 1999, once again briefing the directors on advice from Dominion Resources'
advisors and the status of the Columbia offer.
On May 7, 1999, CNG, together with its financial and legal advisors, attended
a meeting with Columbia and its financial and legal advisors. At the meeting,
representatives of Columbia furnished information which addressed regulatory
aspects of the proposed transaction and the synergies anticipated in a
Columbia/CNG transaction. Columbia also informed CNG and issued a press release
stating that it would be sending CNG a definitive merger agreement on Saturday,
May 8, 1999, for consideration by the CNG Board and that the agreement would be
binding on Columbia until 5:00 p.m., Monday, May 10, 1999, unless CNG's Board
of Directors issued a notice of termination to Dominion Resources by that
deadline, in which case Columbia's proposal would remain binding until 5:00
p.m. on Wednesday, May 12, 1999.
CNG held discussions with its financial and legal advisors to discuss the
status of, and to compare the terms of, the competing proposals.
Representatives of the financial advisors for CNG and Dominion Resources
discussed the possibility of a revised Dominion proposal without coming to any
conclusions.
Late on the afternoon of May 8, 1999, CNG received the Columbia definitive
merger agreement. CNG and its financial and legal advisors reviewed the
agreement and held several conference calls and meetings from May 8 through May
10, 1999 to discuss the terms and provisions of the agreement. Also on May 8,
1999, conversations continued between representatives of the financial advisors
of Dominion Resources and CNG regarding the merger consideration of the
Dominion Resources proposal.
On May 10, 1999, CNG advised Columbia that the CNG Board would consider the
Columbia Proposal at its regular meeting on May 11, 1999. Columbia thereafter
announced that it had extended the expiration of its proposal until 5:00 p.m.
on Tuesday, May 11, 1999. On May 10, 1999, Columbia provided CNG with its
comparison of the two proposals under consideration by CNG and requested that
copies of the letter be provided to the CNG Board.
On May 10, 1999, the Dominion Resources Board met and received a presentation
from management with respect to a revised offer for CNG stock. Dominion
Resources' legal advisors and financial advisors also participated in the
meeting. Lehman Brothers offered an oral fairness opinion with respect to the
revised offer for CNG common stock. At that meeting, the Dominion Resources
Board of Directors approved the revised stock and cash combination offer for
all outstanding shares of CNG common stock. Thereafter, Dominion Resources
communicated its revised offer to CNG for consideration by the CNG Board.
Lehman Brothers delivered a written opinion dated May 11, 1999, that the
consideration to be paid to the holders of CNG common stock is fair to Dominion
Resources.
On May 11, 1999, the CNG Board of Directors reviewed the Columbia Proposal
and the revised offer from Dominion Resources. CNG's financial and regulatory
advisors made presentations to the CNG Board and members of management and
CNG's legal advisors were present and participated in the discussion. Merrill
Lynch offered an oral fairness opinion with respect to the merger consideration
to be received from Dominion Resources and subsequently delivered its written
fairness opinion dated as of May 11, 1999. The CNG Board unanimously approved
the revised merger proposal from Dominion Resources and rejected the
unsolicited proposal from Columbia.
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The Mergers
CNG informed Dominion Resources and Columbia of its decision and entered into
the amended and restated merger agreement with Dominion Resources as of May 11,
1999. Columbia announced that its offer had expired and on May 12, 1999, that
it did not intend to pursue a further offer to acquire CNG.
Reasons for the Mergers
The mergers of Dominion Resources and CNG will result in an integrated
electric and natural gas company, serving nearly four million retail customers
in five states. Your companies believe the combined company will be well
positioned to be successful in the increasingly competitive energy marketplace,
in particular in the Northeast quadrant of the United States. We expect the
mergers to enhance shareholder value more than either company could do on its
own. The combined company should have three elements key to success in the
competitive energy marketplace--size; geographic focus in strong regional
markets; and efficient assets in the right locations.
.Increase in Scale, Scope and Skills
The mergers will result in the combined company having pro forma 1998
assets of $28.0 billion as of March 31, 1999 and revenues of $8.8 billion
for the year ended December 1998. Dominion Resources and CNG believe that
the combined company's increased size and scope will improve its
opportunities for expansion, allowing the company to offer a broad line of
energy products. The combination will expand and diversify Dominion
Resources' core customer base from approximately two million retail
customers in two states to four million retail customers in five states.
The mergers align successful leaders with seasoned managers proven in the
competitive marketplace.
As a result, the combined company should have the scale, scope and
skills to be successful in the competitive energy marketplace.
.Compatible Geographic Markets
The proposed mergers are consistent with Dominion Resources' previously
announced strategy of growing in the Northeast quadrant of the U.S.--
covering the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast portions of the U.S. This
region is referred to as MAIN-to-Maine. The first MAIN refers to the Mid-
America Interconnected Network. It covers the states of Missouri,
Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana. The reference to the State of
Maine designates the northeast end of this region. Virginia represents the
southern boundary of this region. This area is the source of approximately
40 percent of the nation's demand for energy.
Dominion Resources and CNG believe that the mergers will give the
combined company the platform it needs for growth in a region that is
rapidly deregulating, allowing the company to market its portfolio of
energy products to a broad customer base. In the states where our
companies already have operations, there are an estimated 16 million power
customers not currently serviced by Virginia Power. There are an estimated
eight million additional natural gas customers not currently served by
CNG. Millions of prospective customers live in adjoining states. Your
companies intend to seek out these prospective customers.
Dominion Resources has most of its electric power assets in several of
the region's states and has gas reserves located within, or transportable
to, the region. The proposed mergers give it a strong platform for growth,
allowing it to more rapidly and effectively compete in the emerging
electric retail competition markets in states where CNG currently has
facilities. Pennsylvania and Ohio, especially, have strong policies
encouraging new competition. For CNG, the mergers give it a broader
platform in Virginia and North Carolina, the primary service area of
Dominion Resources' principal subsidiary, Virginia Power.
.Efficient and Well Located Assets
Dominion Resources and CNG combined will have storage, transportation
and electric power production capability concentrated in the Northeast and
Mid-Atlantic region.
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The Mergers
The combined company will have an energy portfolio (including purchased
power) of approximately 20,000 megawatts, over 2.9 trillion cubic feet
equivalent in natural gas and oil reserves producing over 300 billion
cubic feet equivalent annually. It will operate a major interstate gas
pipeline system and the largest natural gas storage system in North
America with almost 900 Bcfe of storage. The combined company will rank as
the ninth largest independent oil and gas producer in the United States
measured by reserves. The combined company will have more than 5,000 miles
of electric transmission lines. These power lines are well located to
transmit power from low-cost producers in the Southeast, including
Virginia Power, into higher-cost markets in the Northeast and Midwest,
including CNG's service territory. The combined company's assets are well
positioned to serve the MAIN to Maine region.
Your companies believe a strategic advantage of the mergers is a better
positioned exploration and production portfolio. After the mergers, the
combined company will have a well balanced mix of offshore and onshore
properties. This should reduce the risk profile of the exploration and
production operations.
Other Reasons For The Mergers
When the mergers are complete your companies expect to enhance revenues
through integration of our complementary businesses. Our combined company will
have the following primary businesses:
. retail natural gas and electricity sales;
. wholesale natural gas and electricity sales;
. natural gas exploration and production activities;
. electric generation; and
. international operations.
We intend to integrate these complementary businesses. We will not only serve
our existing retail customers and wholesale customers, but will reach out to
new customers as a full-service energy provider as deregulation proceeds.
In addition, the mergers will enable the combined company to realize cost
savings from elimination of duplicate corporate and administrative programs,
greater efficiencies in operations and business processes, and streamlined
purchasing practices.
Post-Merger Business Plan
Dominion Resources generally does not make public projections as to future
sales, earnings, or other results. However, Dominion Resources has analyzed the
possible economic consequences of the mergers and combined this analysis with
its internal projections for its existing businesses and with information
provided by CNG concerning its view of the future for Dominion Resources'
initial post-merger business plan for the period 1999-2004. Since this analysis
has been disclosed during the merger process, the company believes it should be
included in this joint proxy statement/prospectus for all shareholders.
Dominion Resources' management believes that the accompanying prospective
financial information was prepared on a reasonable basis to reflect the best
currently available estimates and judgments. It also presents to the best of
management's knowledge and belief, the expected course of action and the
expected future financial performance of the combined company. However, this
information is not fact and should not be relied upon as necessarily indicative
of future results, and readers of this joint proxy statement/prospectus are
cautioned not to make any investment decision based on the prospective
financial information.
Neither Dominion Resources' nor CNG's independent auditors, nor any other
independent accountants, have compiled, examined, or performed any procedures
with respect to the prospective financial information contained herein, nor
have they expressed any opinion or any other form of assurance on such
information or its achievability, and assume no responsibility for, and
disclaim any association with, the prospective financial information. While
management believes that these projections have been prepared on a reasonable
basis, this information was not developed in accordance with the guidelines
established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
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The Mergers
This plan is the product of many assumptions and is subject to substantial
uncertainties. See FORWARD- LOOKING STATEMENTS on page 16. It assumes, among
other things, that all necessary approvals to close the mergers and to
implement plans to integrate the two companies will be obtained by the end of
1999. Dominion Resources' five-year business plan is based on the assumption
that the mergers will be completed by the end of 1999.
Dominion Resources' intention for the combined company would be to maximize
long-term shareholder value through growth in earnings and cash flow. The plan
projects annualized earnings per share growth of 8 to 10 percent, allowing
Dominion Resources to maintain the current dividend level of $2.58 per share
while lowering the dividend payout ratio from 84 percent in 1999 to 55 percent
in 2004. Operating cash flow is projected to increase from $2,005 million in
1999 to $2,595 million in 2004 and free cash flow (cash flow after dividends
and capital expenditures) is projected to increase from $(955) million in 1999
to $195 million in 2004. The business plan assumes that capital expenditures
will be funded through a combination of cash flow and external financing.
Initially, the combined company's capital structure is expected to be 32.5
percent common equity and 67.5 percent debt and preferred securities. Equity is
expected to increase to 43.5 percent of the overall capital structure in 2004
as a result of cash generated from divestitures of non-core assets, free cash
flow, and conversion of mandatory convertible securities expected to be issued
in connection with the acquisition financing.
The plan projects total earnings of $925 million in 1999, growing to $1,120
million in 2004. Earnings per share is expected to grow from an estimated $3.05
in 1999 for Dominion Resources prior to the mergers to $4.66 in 2004 for the
combined entity. Total earnings growth projections reflect pretax merger
synergies (principally revenue enhancements and cost savings resulting from
Dominion Resources' combination with CNG) totaling $730 million over the five-
year period. Earnings contributions from the combined company's regulated
businesses are projected to grow from $685 million in 1999 to $870 million in
2004. Principal drivers of growth in the regulated businesses are expected to
include opportunities created by deregulation of electric generation in
Virginia, customer growth, cost control/merger synergies and control of
regulated capital expenditures. Earnings contributions from the oil and gas
exploration and production (E&P) business are projected to grow from $130
million in 1999 to $290 million in 2004, driven by improvement in lifting,
finding and developing costs and production growth. Earnings contributions from
retail and wholesale power marketing activities are projected to increase from
$20 million in 1999 to $150 million in 2004. The retail and wholesale marketing
businesses will be driven by the incumbent customer base in deregulating
markets and exploitation of low-cost generation sources and existing trading
skills at Virginia Power. Contributions from the electric generation business
are projected to grow from $20 million in 1999 to $40 million in 2004, driven
by the leveraging of CNG infrastructure through new site development,
gas/electric arbitrage and exploitation of opportunities in high-cost markets.
These segment earnings exclude certain corporate overheads and merger related
financing costs, as well as Dominion Capital earnings of $75 million in year
1999. The net of these other items is $70 million in 1999 and $(230) million in
2004.
Anticipated total capital expenditures in the business plan for 1999-2004 are
$11.9 billion, with the following breakdown by business:
.Regulated businesses: $5.5 billion
.Exploration and production: $4.1 billion
.Retail and wholesale marketing: $0.1 billion
.Electric generation: $0.9 billion
.Other: $1.3 billion
Debt is projected to decrease over the period from $14.9 billion to $11.8
billion, while the book value of common equity is expected to increase from
$7.7 billion to $9.8 billion. Debt may be reduced with the proceeds from
divestitures of non-core assets, while the increase in common equity is
expected to result from increases in retained earnings. The business plan
reflects the repurchase of approximately 20 percent of outstanding Dominion
Resources stock (38 million shares) at the time of the combination with CNG and
assumes no new issuances of common equity over the five-year period except for
equity issued in connection with any Convertible Securities. Dividends at the
current rate would require payment of $690 million in 1999, $625 million in
2000 and $620 million per year in 2001-2004.
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<PAGE>
The Mergers
Dominion Resources has also considered the impact that this earnings growth
might be expected to have on the combined company's stock price based on
multiples applied by the marketplace to other somewhat similarly situated
industry participants. It believes current price/earnings multiples for
Dominion Resources stock are based, among other things, on analysts' estimates
of stand-alone earnings growth in the 5 to 6 percent range. Achievement of the
combined company's business plan growth rate of 8 to 10 percent has been
estimated to potentially result in an increase of three multiple points to the
price/earnings ratio. Assuming a three-point multiple expansion, earnings
assumed in the business plan, and reinvestment by shareholders of dividends
into Dominion Resources common stock, it is estimated that the combined
company's shares can potentially provide a higher total shareholder return over
the business plan period ending December 31, 2004 than either Dominion
Resources or CNG could generate on a stand-alone basis.
Recommendations of the Boards of Directors
Dominion Resources
The Dominion Resources Board of Directors, by unanimous vote, approved and
adopted the merger agreement, including the issuance of Dominion Resources
common stock in accordance with the merger agreement, and determined that the
mergers are in the best interests of the company and its shareholders. The
Board of Directors also, by unanimous vote, has approved the amendment to the
Dominion Resources Articles of Incorporation. The Dominion Resources Board of
Directors recommends that Dominion Resources shareholders vote FOR the approval
and adoption of the merger agreement with respect to the First Merger; FOR the
approval and adoption of the merger agreement, including the issuance of
shares, in connection with the Second Merger; and FOR the amendment to the
Articles of Incorporation.
Dominion Resources has been developing a strategy to compete in the
deregulating energy industry. As part of that strategy, the Board of Directors
believes that to be successful going forward, the company must have a broad
scale and scope, must focus on strong energy markets and must have efficient
and well-located assets. When considering whether to approve and recommend the
merger with CNG, the Board felt that CNG contributed to all of these factors.
In its review of the proposed transaction, the Dominion Resources Board of
Directors was assisted by management and by its financial, investment banking
and legal advisors. In addition to considering the guidance it received from
its advisors, the Dominion Resources Board of Directors took into account
various strategic, financial, legal and tax factors, including those described
above in THE MERGERS--Reasons for the Mergers.
The Board compared the mergers and other strategic growth alternatives with
other similar gas and electric utility mergers that have begun a trend of
integration in the increasingly competitive energy industry. By diversifying
the product offered (gas or electricity) and spreading assets geographically,
the Board believes this type of business combination can ease the risks of the
changing energy industry. The Board also feels that the combined company will
be financially stronger and will have more opportunities than the company would
have had access to on its own.
The Board also analyzed various risks of the mergers, including:
.whether the benefits sought from the mergers would be realized;
. whether the amount of work required by the mergers would divert
management's attention and increase expenses;
. whether the regulatory approvals would be obtained;
. whether the difficulties of integrating two large and geographically and
operationally distinct companies could be overcome; and
. whether the issuance of the company's stock to CNG shareholders would
dilute the value of the company's stock.
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<PAGE>
The Mergers
In considering the revised offer the Board also considered, among other
factors, the effect:
. of the revised offer on dilution of the company's stock;
. on the company's stock price;
. on accounting treatment for the transaction; and,
. on the companies' balance sheet ratios.
The Board also discussed potential asset divestiture of Dominion Resources'
non-core assets.
After considering these and other risks, the Board concluded that the
potential benefits of the proposed mergers outweighed the risks and any
disadvantages.
It is important to note that no one factor was the reason for any individual
director's decision and that each director attached his or her own weights to
the many factors considered. However, based on the total mix of information
available to them, all directors determined to approve and recommend the
mergers to Dominion Resources shareholders. They felt that the strategic,
operational and financial opportunities the transaction presents will enhance
Dominion Resources shareholder value and that shareholders should stand to
benefit in the future by holding ownership interests in the combined entity.
CNG
The CNG Board of Directors, by unanimous vote, has approved and adopted the
merger agreement, believes the Second Merger is fair and in the best interests
of CNG and CNG shareholders and is advisable, and recommends that CNG
shareholders vote FOR, approve and adopt the merger agreement.
In considering the recommendation of the CNG Board of Directors with respect
to the merger agreement, CNG shareholders should be aware that certain members
of the CNG Board of Directors and CNG employees have interests in the Second
Merger, that are different than, or in addition to, the interests of
shareholders of CNG generally. The CNG Board of Directors was aware of these
interests and considered them, among other matters, in approving the merger
agreement. See Interest of Certain Persons in the Mergers.
In engaging in the process of screening and evaluating potential strategic
merger candidates and in reaching its determination to approve and recommend
the merger agreement, the CNG Board of Directors was motivated by its desire to
position CNG to meet the challenges of the changing energy industry environment
and thereby to assist the holders of CNG common stock to realize the benefits
of the opportunities, and to avoid the risks, presented by such changing
environment.
In its deliberations with respect to the merger agreement, the CNG Board of
Directors consulted with CNG management and the financial and legal advisors to
CNG. The factors considered by the CNG Board of Directors include those
enumerated below. While all of these factors were considered by the CNG Board
of Directors, the CNG Board of Directors did not make determinations with
respect to each such factor. Rather, the CNG Board of Directors made its
judgment with respect to the merger agreement based on the total mix of
information available to it, and the judgments of individual directors may have
been influenced to a greater or lesser degree by their individual views with
respect to different factors.
The factors considered by the CNG Board of Directors in evaluating the
initial merger agreement included the following:
. its knowledge of the business, operations, assets, properties, operating
results and financial condition of CNG;
. CNG's strategic alternatives, including the prospects of positioning CNG
for the future and enhancing long-term shareholder value by remaining an
independent company or by effecting a strategic business combination with
another party;
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The Mergers
. information concerning CNG's prospects as an independent company;
. information concerning the financial position, results of operations,
businesses, competitive position and prospects of a business combination
with Dominion Resources, including the amount of stranded investment;
. the philosophy of the management of Dominion Resources, especially as it
relates to the means of meeting the challenges of industry change and
compatibility with that of CNG management;
. the prospects of regulatory approval, at each level of regulation, of a
combination with Dominion Resources;
. the opportunities for cost savings as a result of a business combination
with Dominion Resources;
. the extensive information developed during the period of the screening
process discussed under Background to the Mergers with respect to
Dominion Resources as well as the extensive and inclusive nature of the
screening process itself;
. the comparative market capitalization, debt-to-equity ratio and financial
strength of CNG as an independent company and a combination of CNG with
Dominion Resources;
. the effects of the changing regulatory environment and increased
competition in the energy industry;
. the recent trend in the utility industry toward consolidation and
strategic partnerships that create larger, stronger companies made to
face an increasingly competitive environment;
. specifically, with respect to a business combination with Dominion
Resources:
(a) the exchange ratio and recent trading prices for CNG common stock
and Dominion Resources common stock;
(b) the opportunity for the shareholders of CNG to receive a premium
over the market price for their CNG common stock immediately prior
to announcement of the merger agreement;
(c) the anticipated positive effects of the initial merger proposal on
CNG shareholders;
(d) the terms of the merger agreement, which provide for reciprocal
representations and warranties, conditions to closing and rights to
termination, balanced rights and obligations and protection for
employees of CNG (as discussed under THE MERGER AGREEMENT);
(e) the tax and accounting treatment for the initial merger proposal;
and
(f) the presentations made by Merrill Lynch to the CNG Board of
Directors during the screening process, including information
regarding CNG as an independent entity and CNG in combination with
Dominion Resources (as well as others) and the opinion of Merrill
Lynch rendered to CNG Board of Directors on February 19, 1999 that,
as of such date, the exchange ratio was fair, from a financial point
of view, to CNG shareholders. See Opinion of CNG's Financial
Advisors.
During its deliberations regarding the Second Merger and the merger agreement
(and, indeed, during the screening process), the CNG Board of Directors also
analyzed certain risks associated with the Second Merger. The CNG Board of
Directors was advised regarding the risks of obtaining regulatory approval for
the Second Merger at all levels of regulation and the potential for a negative
effect on its credit rating following the Second Merger. After reviewing these
matters thoroughly, the CNG Board of Directors determined that the benefits of
the Second Merger outweighed any risks entailed in these matters.
At its meeting on May 11, 1999, the CNG Board unanimously approved the terms
of the revised merger agreement with Dominion Resources and the related
transactions, determined that the terms of the Second Merger are in the best
interests of CNG and CNG shareholders and recommended approval and adoption of
the merger agreement by the shareholders of CNG. In addition, the CNG Board
unanimously rejected the merger proposal from Columbia.
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The Mergers
In its deliberations with respect to the merger agreement, the CNG Board
consulted with CNG management and its financial, legal and regulatory advisors.
The CNG Board compared the value provided to CNG shareholders by the two
proposals, considered the strategic aspects of the two proposals and undertook
a thorough review of the regulatory situation. In particular, the CNG Board
considered, among other things, that:
. under the merger agreement, CNG shareholders would receive a combination
of Dominion Resources common stock and cash with a value of $66.60 per
CNG share based on stock values determined during a twenty day pricing
period shortly before the closing;
. the opinion of Merrill Lynch rendered to the CNG Board on May 11, 1999
that, as of such date, the merger consideration was fair, from a
financial point of view, to CNG shareholders;
. the common stock portion of the merger consideration will be tax-free to
CNG shareholders;
. Dominion Resources' stated intent to maintain its current dividend of
$2.58 per share; and
. the expected timing for receipt of regulatory approvals and completion of
the transaction.
After careful consideration, the CNG Board concluded that the revised
Dominion Resources transaction is better for CNG shareholders due to its
certainty and timing, the strategic benefits of a gas and electric combination,
and the upside potential to shareholders of an investment in the combined
company.
CNG believes that the Second Merger will provide strategic and operational
opportunities that would be unavailable to CNG as an independent company and
will enable CNG and its shareholders to participate in a significantly larger
and more diverse company. Through the pooling of common stock equity,
management, human resources and technical expertise and coordination in the use
of the facilities of CNG and Dominion Resources, CNG believes the combined
company will be better able to meet the competitive environment for the
delivery of energy and services than would CNG as a stand-alone enterprise. CNG
also believes that the combined entity will be better able, in the long term,
to achieve benefits of increased financial stability and strength, improved and
unified management and efficiencies of operations than would CNG as an
independent company.
What Shareholders Will Receive in the Mergers
The merger agreement provides for a two-step merger. The first step is
referred to as the First Merger. In the first step, Dominion Resources will
merge with New Sub I, its wholly owned subsidiary, and Dominion Resources will
be the surviving corporation and will retain its existing structure. The second
step, referred to as the Second Merger, involves either:
. CNG merging with and into New Sub II, a wholly owned Delaware subsidiary
of Dominion Resources, with New Sub II as the surviving company; or
. CNG merging directly into Dominion Resources. In that case, Dominion
Resources will be the surviving entity.
The surviving company in the Second Merger will assume all the rights and
obligations of CNG.
In this document, we refer to the time when the First Merger is completed as
the "Effective Time of the First Merger", and to the time when the Second
Merger is completed as the "Effective Time of the Second Merger". The time when
both mergers are completed is referred to as the "Effective Time."
33
<PAGE>
The Mergers
First Merger
At the Effective Time of the First Merger, each issued and outstanding share
of Dominion Resources common stock, without par value, will be converted at the
shareholder's election into:
(i) $43.00 in cash; or
(ii) one share of Dominion Resources common stock,
in each case subject to proration if Dominion Resources shareholders elect to
receive more or less than $1,251,055,526 (plus any cash paid for fractional
shares), the aggregate amount to be paid in cash to Dominion Resources
shareholders. Dominion Resources has the option to increase the amount of cash
available for the cash election in the First Merger to an amount no greater
than $1,668,400,000 to more closely follow the actual elections of Dominion
Resources shareholders as long as the increase in the cash consideration does
not affect the desired tax treatment of the Second Merger. When completed, the
First Merger will reduce Dominion Resources shares outstanding so that the
Second Merger is less dilutive to earnings for Dominion Resources shares
outstanding after the mergers.
Second Merger
At the Effective Time of the Second Merger, each issued and outstanding share
of CNG common stock, $2.75 par value, will be converted, at the shareholder's
election, into:
(i) $66.60 in cash; or
(ii) a number of shares of Dominion Resources common stock equal to the CNG
Exchange Ratio, as defined below, plus cash equal to 1.52 times the
excess, if any, of $43.816 over the Average Price (the Top-Up Amount),
in each case subject to proration if CNG shareholders elect to exchange more or
less than 38,159,060 shares of CNG common stock for the cash consideration.
However, Dominion Resources may reallocate the cash and shares of Dominion
Resources stock to be received by CNG shareholders to more closely follow the
actual elections of the CNG shareholders as long as the reallocation does not
affect the desired tax treatment of the Second Merger. In addition, Dominion
Resources is required to reduce the amount of cash and increase the number of
shares issued pursuant to the Second Merger to the extent necessary to maintain
the desired tax treatment of the Second Merger.
The "CNG Exchange Ratio" shall be equal to $66.60 divided by either (i) the
Average Price of Dominion Resources common stock if such Average Price is
greater than or equal to $43.816 or (ii) 1.52 if the Average Price of Dominion
Resources common stock is less than $43.816.
"Average Price" means the average of the closing prices on the New York Stock
Exchange for the 20 consecutive Trading Days during the period ending on the
tenth business day before closing.
"Trading Day" means a day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for
trading.
For a further discussion of the timing of the effect of the calculation of
the exchange ratio on what shareholders will receive, see RISK FACTORS.
In the case of a shareholder who does not indicate a preference for cash,
stock or a combination of cash and stock, Dominion Resources will determine
whether cash, stock or a combination of cash and stock will be distributed to
the shareholder.
As a result of the limitations described above, the amount of cash and stock
received by shareholders may differ from their actual elections. If Dominion
Resources common stock is over-subscribed by the shareholders of either
company, a shareholder of that company who elected Dominion Resources common
stock may receive part of his consideration in the form of cash. If cash is
over-subscribed by the shareholders of either company, a shareholder of that
acompany who elected cash may receive part of his consideration in the form of
Dominion Resources common stock.
34
<PAGE>
The Mergers
At least 30 and no more than 90 days before the anticipated day of the
closing of the mergers, an exchange agent selected by Dominion Resources (the
Exchange Agent) will mail a form of election to each shareholder of record (as
of a record date to be determined by Dominion Resources and CNG) of Dominion
Resources and CNG common stock.
Shareholders who hold certificated shares will receive cash for any
fractional share of Dominion Resources common stock due from the mergers.
However, shares held in certain of CNG's or Dominion Resources' stock plans
may maintain fractional shares. CNG and Dominion Resources shareholders should
not send in their common stock certificates until they receive further
instructions.
Following the mergers, current Dominion Resources shareholders will own
approximately 65 percent of the combined company and current CNG shareholders
will own approximately 35 percent of the combined company.
Source of Funds
Dominion Resources plans to initially finance the cash component of the
mergers with an expanded commercial paper program. The commercial paper
program will be backed by a combination of short-term and long-term credit
facilities similar to those currently in place.
After the closing of the mergers, Dominion Resources anticipates replacing a
significant portion of the commercial paper program with proceeds from:
. the issuance of debt, preferred, and/or convertible securities;
. the timely divestiture of Dominion Resources' financial services
subsidiary, Dominion Capital, Inc.; and
. the sale of other non-core assets which do not support the combined
company's MAIN to Maine strategy.
The acquisition capital structure will approximate 30 percent common equity
and 70 percent debt and convertible securities. As a result of the acquisition
financing, the consolidated capital structure will approximate 60 to 65
percent debt securities, 5 to 10 percent preferred securities, and 30 to 35
percent common equity. Dominion Resources anticipates improving its
consolidated capital structure by significantly reducing debt levels through
cash generated by the asset divestitures described above, issuance of
preferred and/or convertible securities and from cash flow from operations.
Dividends
The merger agreement places restrictions on Dominion Resources' and CNG's
ability to declare or pay dividends, split, combine or reclassify their
capital stock or redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire any shares of their
capital stock other than in the ordinary course or according to previously
announced plans pending closing of the mergers. The merger agreement does not
restrict Dominion Resources' and CNG's ability to declare or pay regular
annual dividends of $2.58 per share of Dominion Resources common stock or
$1.94 per share of CNG common stock with usual record and payment dates.
The current annual dividend for Dominion Resources is $2.58 per share.
Dominion Resources' targeted payout ratio of dividends to earnings is 70
percent to 75 percent. At present, the payout ratio is higher. Dominion
Resources' business plan projects that the targeted ratio will be achieved
within two years post closing through earnings growth. Therefore, Dominion
Resources' dividend will be maintained at its current level. See THE MERGERS--
Post-Merger Business Plan.
35
<PAGE>
The Mergers
Management of Dominion Resources Following the Mergers
Chief Executive Officer
If the mergers become effective before August 1, 2000, George A. Davidson,
Jr. will be Chairman of the Board of Directors and Thos. E. Capps will be Vice-
Chairman and President and Chief Executive Officer of Dominion Resources. Mr.
Davidson will serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors until his previously
announced retirement on August 1, 2000. Mr. Capps will reassume his position as
Chairman of the Board of Directors upon the earlier of Mr. Davidson's
retirement or August 1, 2000.
Other Management
Other than the positions of Mr. Capps and Mr. Davidson, the remaining
executive positions have not been determined, but decisions will be made before
the consummation of the mergers. The executive officers will consist of certain
members of Dominion Resources' senior management and certain members of CNG's
senior management.
Board of Directors
After the mergers, the Dominion Resources Board of Directors will have 17
members, 10 of whom will be designated by Dominion Resources and seven of whom
will be designated by CNG. Dominion Resources expects to name Mr. Capps as one
of its designees, and if the mergers become effective before August 1, 2000,
CNG plans on naming Mr. Davidson as one of its designees. Each of CNG and
Dominion Resources intends to designate the remaining board members prior to
the consummation of the mergers.
Committees
The Board of Directors of Dominion Resources will have at least three
committees:
. Audit;
. Organization, Compensation and Nominating; and
. Finance.
CNG designated directors will have a proportionate number of representatives
on each committee. A director nominated by CNG will chair the finance
committee.
Operations
Dominion Resources will continue to use the name Dominion Resources and be
headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. The combined company will continue to
maintain a significant operating office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Opinion of Dominion Resources' Financial Advisor
Dominion Resources engaged Lehman Brothers Inc. (Lehman Brothers) to act as
Dominion Resources' financial advisor in connection with the mergers. On May
11, 1999, Lehman Brothers delivered its opinion to the Dominion Resources Board
of Directors to the effect that as of such date and based upon and subject to
certain matters stated therein, from a financial point of view, the
consideration to be paid to the holders of CNG common stock was fair to
Dominion Resources.
The full text of the written opinion of Lehman Brothers is included as
Appendix B to this document. Holders of Dominion Resources common stock may
read such opinion for a discussion of the assumptions made, factors considered
and limitations upon the review undertaken by Lehman Brothers in rendering its
opinion. The following is a summary of Lehman Brothers' opinion.
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<PAGE>
The Mergers
In arriving at its opinion, Lehman Brothers did not ascribe a specific range
of values to Dominion Resources or CNG but made its determination as to the
fairness of the consideration on the basis of the financial and comparative
analyses described below. Lehman Brothers' advisory services and opinion were
provided for the use and benefit of the Dominion Resources Board of Directors
and were rendered to the Dominion Resources Board of Directors in connection
with its consideration of the mergers. Lehman Brothers' opinion does not
constitute a recommendation to any holder of Dominion Resources common stock as
to how such holder should vote with respect to the mergers. Lehman Brothers was
not requested to opine as to, and its opinion does not address, Dominion
Resources' underlying business decision to proceed with or effect the mergers.
In arriving at its opinion, Lehman Brothers reviewed and analyzed:
(1) the merger agreement and the specific terms of the mergers, including
provisions therein relating to corporate governance and management of
Dominion Resources following the mergers;
(2) such publicly available information concerning Dominion Resources and
CNG that Lehman Brothers believed to be relevant to its analysis, including
their respective Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
1998;
(3) financial and operating information with respect to the businesses,
operations and prospects of Dominion Resources and CNG as furnished to
Lehman Brothers by Dominion Resources and CNG, respectively;
(4) a trading history of Dominion Resources common stock from January 1,
1994 to May 10, 1999 and a comparison of that trading history with those of
other companies that Lehman Brothers deemed relevant, including CNG;
(5) a trading history of the CNG common stock from January 1, 1994 to May
10, 1999 and a comparison of that trading history with those of other
companies that Lehman Brothers deemed relevant, including Dominion
Resources;
(6) a comparison of the historical financial results and present
financial condition of Dominion Resources and CNG with those of other
companies that Lehman Brothers deemed relevant;
(7) a comparison of the financial terms of the merger agreement with the
financial terms of certain other recent transactions that Lehman Brothers
deemed relevant;
(8) the relative pro forma financial contributions of Dominion Resources
and CNG to the combined company upon consummation of the mergers;
(9) the potential pro forma impact of the mergers on Dominion Resources
(including the cost savings, operating synergies and strategic benefits
expected by the management of Dominion Resources and CNG to result from the
mergers); and
(10) certain estimates of oil and natural gas reserves and production
provided by Dominion Resources and CNG.
In addition, Lehman Brothers had discussions with the management of Dominion
Resources and CNG concerning their respective businesses, operations, assets,
financial conditions, reserves, production profiles, exploration programs and
prospects (including the cost savings, operating synergies and strategic
benefits expected by the management of Dominion Resources and CNG to result
from a combination of the businesses of Dominion Resources and CNG) and
undertook such other studies, analyses and investigations as Lehman Brothers
deemed appropriate.
In arriving at its opinion, Lehman Brothers assumed and relied upon the
accuracy and completeness of the financial and other information used by Lehman
Brothers without assuming any responsibility for independent verification of
such information and further relied upon the assurances of the management of
Dominion Resources and CNG that they were not aware of any facts or
circumstances that would make such information
37
<PAGE>
The Mergers
inaccurate or misleading. With respect to the financial projections of Dominion
Resources, CNG and the combined company, upon advice of the management of
Dominion Resources and CNG, Lehman Brothers assumed that such projections had
been reasonably prepared on a basis reflecting the then best currently
available estimates and judgments of the management of Dominion Resources and
CNG, as the case may be, as to their respective future financial performance
and that Dominion Resources and CNG will perform in accordance with such
projections. With respect to the cost savings, operating synergies, and
strategic benefits projected by the management of Dominion Resources and CNG to
result from the mergers, Lehman Brothers assumed that such cost savings,
operating synergies and strategic benefits will be realized substantially in
accordance with such projections. In arriving at its opinion, Lehman Brothers
did not conduct a physical inspection of the properties and facilities of
Dominion Resources or CNG and did not make or obtain from third parties any
evaluations or appraisals of the assets or liabilities of Dominion Resources or
CNG. Lehman Brothers' opinion necessarily is based upon market, economic and
other conditions as they existed on, and could be evaluated as of, the date of
its opinion letter.
In connection with rendering its opinion, Lehman Brothers performed certain
financial, comparative and other analyses as described below. The preparation
of a fairness opinion involves various determinations as to the most
appropriate and relevant methods of financial and comparative analysis and the
application of those methods to the particular circumstances, and, therefore,
such an opinion is not readily susceptible to summary description. Furthermore,
in arriving at its fairness opinion, Lehman Brothers did not attribute any
particular weight to any analysis or factor considered by it, but rather made
qualitative judgments as to the significance and relevance of each analysis and
factor. Accordingly, Lehman Brothers believes that its analyses must be
considered as a whole and that considering any portion of such analyses and of
the factors considered, without considering all analyses and factors, could
create a misleading or incomplete view of the process underlying the opinion.
In its analyses, Lehman Brothers made numerous assumptions with respect to
industry performance, general business and economic conditions and other
matters, many of which are beyond the control of
Dominion Resources or CNG. Any estimates contained in the analyses are not
necessarily indicative of actual values or predictive of future results or
values, which may be significantly more or less favorable than as set forth
therein. In addition, analyses relating to the value of businesses do not
purport to be appraisals or to reflect the prices at which businesses actually
may be sold.
Valuation Analyses
Lehman Brothers prepared the CNG valuation before considering the pro forma
impact of any cost savings, operating synergies or strategic benefits resulting
from the mergers. In determining valuation, Lehman Brothers used the following
methodologies: discounted cash flow analysis, comparable transaction analysis
and comparable company trading analysis. In applying these methodologies,
Lehman Brothers utilized a segment approach and a whole company approach. The
segment approach involved valuing CNG's individual business units separately
(by applying appropriate discount rates and multiples to each business unit).
The relevant business units were natural gas transmission, natural gas
distribution, Exploration and Production and other operations, such as
international. The whole company approach involved valuing CNG by applying to
consolidated financial data a range of discount rates and terminal value
multiples based on the composition of the company's businesses. The whole
company and segment valuation approaches were used to generate a reference
enterprise value range. For each valuation methodology, where relevant, the
reference enterprise value range was adjusted for appropriate on- and off-
balance sheet assets and liabilities, such as debt, cash (including options
proceeds) and indicative values for other operations (such as international)
that were based upon book value, in order to arrive at a common equity value
range (in aggregate dollars and dollars per common share). The implied equity
value ranges derived using the various valuation methodologies listed above all
supported the conclusion that the merger consideration is fair to Dominion
Resources from a financial point of view. These various valuation analyses are
summarized below.
Certain of the analyses include information presented in tabular format. In
order to fully understand the financial analyses used by Lehman Brothers, the
tables must be read together with the text of each summary. The tables alone do
not constitute a complete description of the financial analyses. In addition,
considering any
38
<PAGE>
The Mergers
portion of such analyses and of the factors considered, without considering all
analyses and factors, could create a misleading or incomplete view of the
process underlying Lehman Brothers' opinion.
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis
Lehman Brothers prepared an after-tax cash flow model for the period from
January 1, 1999 through December 31, 2004 based on information provided by CNG
utilizing whole company and segment approaches described above. Terminal values
reflect ranges of multiples of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation
and amortization (EBITDA) in the year 2004. The summary of the discounted cash
flow analysis assumptions is provided below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Terminal Value
Discount EBITDA
Rate Range Multiple Range
---------- --------------
<S> <C> <C>
Whole Company Analysis................................ 8.5%- 9.5% 8.00x- 9.00x
Segment Analysis
Natural Gas Transmission............................ 9.0%-10.0% 9.50x-10.50x
Natural Gas Distribution............................ 8.5%- 9.5% 7.00x- 8.00x
Exploration and Production.......................... 9.5%-11.0% 6.00x- 7.50x
</TABLE>
Based on the above discount rates and terminal value multiples, Lehman
Brothers obtained enterprise value ranges. Where appropriate, Lehman Brothers
adjusted these enterprise value ranges for appropriate on- and off-balance
sheet items, such as debt, cash (including options proceeds) and indicative
values for other operations (such as international) that were based upon book
value, in order to arrive at a common equity value range in dollars per common
share.
The discounted cash flow analysis based on the whole company approach yielded
a valuation of $64.08-$75.07 per share of CNG common stock. The discounted cash
flow analysis based on the segment approach yielded a valuation of $62.58-
$76.44 per share of CNG common stock. Neither the whole company approach nor
the segment approach took into consideration the pro forma impact of any cost
savings, operating synergies or strategic benefits expected to result from the
transaction.
39
<PAGE>
The Mergers
Comparable Transactions Analysis
For the segment approach, Lehman Brothers reviewed certain publicly available
information on selected transactions which were announced or took place over
the last several years for each of the relevant business segments. Such data
included projected financial criteria based on published estimates of various
third-company equity research analysts. For each transaction, relevant
transaction multiples were analyzed and applied to CNG business segments.
Lehman Brothers reviewed selected transactions involving natural gas
transmission companies, local natural gas distribution companies and
Exploration and Production companies. For the whole company approach, Lehman
Brothers applied multiples applicable to transactions involving integrated
natural gas companies, as adjusted using a weighting of other businesses of
CNG. Multiples used to determine enterprise values included projected EBITDA
and EBITDE (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion,
amortization and exploration expenses) as well as estimated proved oil and gas
reserves on a billion cubic feet equivalent (Bcfe) basis and the standardized
measure of discounted future net after-tax cash flows (After-tax SEC-10 Value).
Multiples used to determine equity values included book value and projected net
income. These multiples are summarized in the following table.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Whole Company Analysis
Enterprise Value/
EBITDA (1998-2000E)............................................. 8.50x-10.50x
Equity Value/
Net Income (1998-1999E)......................................... 20.00x-24.00x
Segment Analysis
Natural Gas Transmission
Enterprise value/
EBITDA (1998-2000E)............................................ 9.00x-11.50x
Natural Gas Distribution
Enterprise value/
EBITDA (1998-1999E)............................................ 8.00x- 9.25x
Exploration and Production
Enterprise value/
EBITDE (1998).................................................. 7.50x- 8.50x
Proved Reserves (Bcfe 6:1)..................................... $1.25-$1.50
After-tax SEC-10 Value......................................... 2.00x- 2.40x
</TABLE>
Where appropriate, Lehman Brothers adjusted enterprise value ranges for
certain on- and off-balance sheet items, such as debt, cash (including options
proceeds) and indicative values for other operations (such as international)
that were based upon book value, in order to arrive at a common equity value
range in dollars per common share.
Based on the whole company approach, the comparable transactions analysis
yielded a valuation of $66.47-$75.07 per share of CNG common stock. Based on
the segment approach, the comparable transactions analysis yielded a valuation
of $55.89-$65.93 per share of CNG common stock. Neither the whole company
approach nor the segment approach took into consideration the pro forma impact
of any cost savings, operating synergies or strategic benefits expected to
result from the transaction.
Because the market conditions, rationale and circumstances surrounding each
of the transactions analyzed were specific to each transaction and because of
the inherent differences between the businesses, operations and prospects of
CNG and the acquired businesses analyzed, Lehman Brothers believed that it was
inappropriate to,
and therefore did not, rely solely on the quantitative results of the analysis
and, accordingly, also made qualitative judgments concerning differences
between the characteristics of these transactions and the mergers that would
affect the acquisition value of CNG and such acquired companies.
40
<PAGE>
The Mergers
Comparable Company Trading Analysis
Lehman Brothers reviewed the public stock market trading multiples for
selected large capitalization natural gas transmission companies, selected
large capitalization local natural gas distribution companies and selected
Exploration and Production companies. For the whole company approach, Lehman
Brothers applied multiples applicable to natural gas transmission companies as
adjusted using a weighting of other businesses of CNG. Lehman Brothers
calculated and analyzed enterprise and common equity market value multiples
based upon certain relevant historical publicly available data and upon
projected financial criteria as published by various third-company equity
research analysts. These multiples are summarized below.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Whole Company Analysis
Enterprise Value/
EBITDA (1998-2000E)............................................. 7.00x-10.50x
Equity Value/
Net Income (1998-2000E)......................................... 18.00x-22.00x
Segment Analysis
Natural Gas Transmission
Enterprise Value/
EBITDA (1998-2000E)............................................ 8.00x-11.00x
Natural Gas Distribution
Enterprise Value/
EBITDA (1998-2000E)............................................ 6.50x- 8.50x
EBIT (1998-2000E).............................................. 10.00x-12.00x
Exploration and Production
Enterprise Value/
EBITDE (1998-2000E)............................................ 6.00x- 9.00x
Proved Reserves (Bcfe 6:1)..................................... $1.50-$1.75
After-tax SEC-10 Value......................................... 2.40x- 2.80x
</TABLE>
Where appropriate, Lehman Brothers adjusted enterprise value ranges for
certain on- and off-balance sheet items, such as debt, cash (including options
proceeds) and indicative values for other operations (such as international)
that were based upon book value, in order to arrive at a common equity value
range in dollars per common share.
Based on the whole company approach, the comparable company trading analysis
yielded a valuation of $63.60-$73.16 per share of CNG common stock. Based on
the segment approach, the comparable company trading analysis yielded a
valuation of $57.86-$66.47 per share of CNG common stock. Neither the whole
company approach nor the segment approach took into consideration the pro forma
impact of any cost savings, operating synergies or strategic benefits expected
to result from the transaction.
Because of the inherent differences between the businesses, operations and
prospects of CNG and the businesses, operations and prospects of the companies
included in the comparable company groups, Lehman Brothers believed that it was
inappropriate to, and therefore did not, rely solely on the quantitative
results of the analysis and, accordingly, also made qualitative judgments
concerning differences between the financial and operating characteristics of
CNG and companies in the comparable company groups that would affect the public
trading values of CNG and such comparable companies.
Premiums Paid Analysis
Lehman Brothers conducted an analysis of premiums paid in selected relevant
convergence (combinations between electric and gas utilities), natural gas
distribution and electric utility transactions. In addition, Lehman
Brothers separately analyzed premiums paid in the Duke/PanEnergy transaction.
Premiums for these analyses were calculated based upon the implied price on the
date of the announced transaction relative to the target
41
<PAGE>
The Mergers
company's closing stock prices one day, one week and four weeks prior to
transaction announcement. The results of these analyses are summarized below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
One Day One Week Four Weeks
------- -------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Average of premiums for convergence companies..... 29% 34% 38%
Average of premiums for natural gas distribution
companies........................................ 34 34 35
Average of premiums for electric utilities........ 25 24 26
Duke/PanEnergy transaction premiums............... 18 23 30
</TABLE>
Based on closing prices as of February 18, 1999 (day prior to the original
announcement of the transaction) and consideration of $66.60 per CNG common
share, the implied premiums paid for CNG stock would have been 26 percent, 30
percent and 28 percent for the periods of one day, one week and four weeks,
respectively. Based on closing prices as of May 10, 1999 (day prior to the
announcement of the revised transaction) and consideration of $66.60 per CNG
common share, the implied premiums paid for CNG common stock would have been 14
percent, 11 percent, and 26 percent for the periods of one day, one week and
four weeks, respectively.
Pro Forma Merger Consequences Analysis
Lehman Brothers also prepared a pro forma merger model based upon Dominion
Resources' and CNG's estimates of future cost savings, operating synergies and
strategic benefits expected to result from the mergers. Lehman Brothers then
compared the earnings per share of Dominion Resources on a stand-alone basis to
the earnings per share of the pro forma combined company. In addition, Lehman
Brothers prepared a pro forma merger model based on Wall Street consensus
earnings estimates for the years 2000 through 2002. Lehman Brothers noted that,
assuming a closing by December 31, 1999, the mergers will be neutral or
accretive to Dominion Resources' pro forma earnings per share by 2002.
Lehman Brothers is an internationally recognized investment banking firm
engaged in, among other things, the valuation of businesses and their
securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions, negotiated
underwritings, competitive bids, secondary distributions of listed and unlisted
securities, private placements and valuations for corporate and other purposes.
Dominion Resources selected Lehman Brothers because of its expertise,
reputation and familiarity with Dominion Resources and because its investment
banking professionals have substantial experience in transactions comparable to
the mergers.
Lehman Brothers has previously rendered certain financial advisory and
investment banking services to Dominion Resources, for which it has received
customary compensation. Pursuant to the terms of an engagement letter between
Lehman Brothers and Dominion Resources, Dominion Resources will pay Lehman
Brothers a financial advisory fee of up to $12 million. In addition, Dominion
Resources has agreed to reimburse Lehman Brothers for its reasonable expenses
incurred in connection with its engagement, and to indemnify Lehman Brothers
and certain related persons against certain liabilities in connection with its
engagement, including certain liabilities which may arise under federal
securities laws.
In the ordinary course of its business, Lehman Brothers actively trades in
the debt and equity securities of Dominion Resources and CNG for its own
account and for the accounts of its customers and, accordingly, may at any time
hold a long or short position in such securities.
Opinion of CNG's Financial Advisor
Merrill Lynch has acted as financial advisor to CNG in connection with the
mergers and has assisted the CNG Board in its examination of the fairness, from
a financial point of view, of the consideration to be received by holders of
CNG common stock in the Second Merger. As described herein, Merrill Lynch's
opinion dated as of May 11, 1999 (together with the related presentations) to
the CNG Board was only one of the many factors taken into consideration by the
CNG Board in making its determination to approve the merger agreement dated as
of May 11, 1999.
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The Mergers
On May 11, 1999, Merrill Lynch delivered its oral opinion to the CNG Board,
subsequently confirmed in writing in the Merrill Lynch Fairness Opinion letter,
that, as of such date and based upon and subject to certain matters stated
therein, the consideration to be received by CNG shareholders in the Second
Merger was fair to such shareholders from a financial point of view.
The full text of the Merrill Lynch Fairness Opinion, which sets forth many of
the assumptions made, matters considered and limitations on review undertaken,
is attached as Annex C hereto and is incorporated herein by reference. Merrill
Lynch's opinion is directed to the CNG Board and addresses only the fairness of
the consideration from a financial point of view. It does not address any other
aspect of the mergers (including whether any particular mix of cash
consideration or stock consideration is fair to CNG shareholders) or any
related transaction and does not constitute a recommendation to any holder of
CNG common stock as to how such holder should vote at the CNG special meeting.
The summary of the Merrill Lynch Fairness Opinion set forth in this joint proxy
statement/prospectus is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text
of such opinion.
In connection with its opinion, Merrill Lynch, among other things:
. Reviewed certain historical and publicly available business and financial
information relating to CNG and Dominion Resources that Merrill Lynch
deemed to be relevant;
. Reviewed certain information, including financial forecasts, relating to
the business, earnings, cash flow, assets, liabilities and prospects of
CNG and Dominion Resources, furnished to Merrill Lynch by CNG and
Dominion Resources;
. Conducted discussions with members of senior management of CNG and
Dominion Resources concerning their respective businesses, properties and
prospects;
. Reviewed the historical market prices and trading activity for the common
stock of CNG and Dominion Resources and compared them with that of
certain publicly traded companies which Merrill Lynch deemed to be
reasonably similar to CNG or Dominion Resources, respectively;
. Compared the results of operations of CNG and Dominion Resources with
that of certain companies which Merrill Lynch deemed to be reasonably
similar to CNG or Dominion Resources, respectively;
. Compared the proposed financial terms of the mergers with the financial
terms of certain other mergers and acquisitions which Merrill Lynch
deemed to be relevant;
. Reviewed the respective businesses and prospects of each of CNG and
Dominion Resources, after giving effect to the mergers;
. Reviewed the merger agreement;
. Took into account the terms of the proposal made by Columbia Energy Group
(the Columbia Proposal) as set forth under cover of the letter delivered
on its behalf dated May 8, 1999;
. Took into account presentations by the persons designated by CNG as
having primary responsibility for analyzing the regulatory issues
associated with the mergers and with the Columbia Proposal; and
. Reviewed such other financial studies and analyses and performed such
other investigations and took into account such other matters as Merrill
Lynch deemed necessary, including its assessment of general economic,
market and monetary conditions.
In connection with its review, Merrill Lynch did not assume any
responsibility for independent verification of any of the information provided
to or otherwise reviewed by Merrill Lynch and assumed and relied upon the
accuracy and completeness of all such information. With respect to the
financial forecasts, Merrill Lynch assumed that such forecasts were reasonably
prepared and reflect the best currently available estimates and judgments of
the managements of CNG and Dominion Resources as to the future financial
performance of CNG and Dominion Resources, respectively. In addition, Merrill
Lynch did not make an independent evaluation or appraisal of the assets or
liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of CNG or Dominion Resources, nor
43
<PAGE>
The Mergers
was Merrill Lynch furnished with any such evaluations, appraisals or actuarial
analyses. In addition, Merrill Lynch did not assume any obligation to conduct,
nor has Merrill Lynch conducted any physical inspection of the properties or
facilities of CNG or Dominion Resources. Merrill Lynch relied on CNG as to
certain legal, tax and accounting aspects of the transactions contemplated by
the merger agreement. With respect to the estimates of potential synergies
furnished by CNG, Merrill Lynch assumed that such estimates have been
reasonably prepared and reflect the best currently available estimates and
judgments of the management of CNG as to the expected synergies of the Second
Merger that the shareholders of the combined entity will be allowed to retain.
Merrill Lynch assumed that in the course of obtaining the necessary regulatory
or other consents or approvals (contractual or otherwise) for the mergers, no
restrictions, including any divestiture requirements or amendments or
modifications, would be imposed that would have a material adverse effect on
the contemplated benefits of the mergers.
Merrill Lynch's opinion was necessarily based on information available to it
and on general economic, financial, stock market, monetary and other conditions
as they existed and could be evaluated on the date of its opinion. Merrill
Lynch did not address the merits of the underlying decision by CNG to engage in
the Second Merger. Merrill Lynch expressed no opinion as to what the value of
Dominion Resources common stock actually would be when issued to the holders of
CNG common stock pursuant to the Second Merger or the prices at which Dominion
Resources common stock would trade subsequent to the mergers. Although Merrill
Lynch evaluated the consideration to be received by the holders of CNG common
stock from a financial point of view, Merrill Lynch was not requested to, and
did not, recommend the specific consideration payable in the Second Merger. In
connection with the preparation of its opinion, Merrill Lynch was not
authorized by CNG or the CNG Board to solicit, and did not solicit, third-party
indications of interest for the acquisition of all or any part of CNG.
In preparing its opinion for the CNG Board, Merrill Lynch performed a variety
of financial and comparative analyses, including those described below. The
summary of analyses performed by Merrill Lynch as set forth below does not
purport to be a complete description of the analyses underlying Merrill Lynch's
opinion. The preparation of a fairness opinion is a complex analytic process
involving various determinations as to the most appropriate and relevant
methods of financial analyses and the application of those methods to the
particular circumstances and, therefore, such an opinion is not readily
susceptible to partial or summary description. No company, business or
transaction used in such analyses as a comparison is identical to Dominion
Resources, CNG or the mergers, nor is an evaluation of the results of such
analyses entirely mathematical; rather, it involves complex considerations and
judgments concerning financial and operating characteristics and other factors
that could affect the acquisition, public trading or other values of the
companies, business segments or transactions being analyzed. The estimates
contained in such analyses and the ranges of valuations resulting from any
particular analysis are not necessarily indicative of actual values or
predictive of future results or values, which may be significantly more or less
favorable than those suggested by such analyses. In addition, analyses relating
to the value of businesses or securities do not purport to be appraisals or to
reflect the prices at which businesses, companies or securities actually may be
sold. Accordingly, such analyses and estimates are inherently subject to
substantial uncertainty.
In arriving at its opinion, Merrill Lynch made qualitative judgments as to
the significance and relevance of each analysis and factor considered by it.
Accordingly, Merrill Lynch believes that its analyses must be considered as a
whole and that selecting portions of its analyses and factors, without
considering all analyses and factors, could create an incomplete view of the
processes underlying such analyses and its opinion. In its analyses, Merrill
Lynch made numerous assumptions with respect to Dominion Resources, CNG,
industry performance, and regulatory, general business, economic, market and
financial conditions, as well as other matters, many of which are beyond the
control of Dominion Resources and CNG, and involve the application of complex
methodologies and educated judgment.
The following is a summary of the material financial and comparative analyses
performed by Merrill Lynch in arriving at its May 11, 1999 opinion and
presented to the CNG Board. Merrill Lynch derived implied values per share for
CNG common stock based upon the values suggested by these analyses, in light of
the
44
<PAGE>
The Mergers
judgment and experience of Merrill Lynch. The Merrill Lynch opinion is based
upon Merrill Lynch's consideration of the collective results of all such
analyses, together with the other factors referred to in its opinion letter. In
the Second Merger, the outstanding shares of CNG common stock will be converted
into the right to receive $66.60 per share in cash and shares of Dominion
Resources common stock at the election of the CNG shareholder, subject to
proration.
In concluding that the consideration was fair, from a financial point of
view, to the holders of CNG common stock and in its discussions with the CNG
Board, Merrill Lynch compared the consideration to each range of values per
share of CNG common stock set forth below, which were derived from the analyses
performed by Merrill Lynch, and noted that the consideration was generally
consistent with the ranges of such values per share. The implied values per
share of CNG common stock derived by Merrill Lynch were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Value Range per
Valuation Methodology CNG Share
--------------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis........................... $55.50 -- $63.35
Comparable Transaction Analysis......................... 56.95 -- 65.72
Merger Premium Analysis................................. 63.53 -- 67.91
Comparable Company Trading Analysis..................... 52.52 -- 66.51
</TABLE>
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis. In order to determine a range of per share
values based upon discounted cash flow analysis (DCF Analysis), Merrill Lynch
performed DCF Analyses for CNG using projections provided to Merrill Lynch by
the management of CNG and calculated a range of values per share for CNG common
stock.
The CNG DCF Analysis was based upon the discount to present value, assuming
discount rates ranging from 7.5 percent to 8.5 percent, of (i) CNG's projected
free cash flows for the years 1999 through 2003 and (ii) CNG's value in 2003
based upon a range of multiples from 6.75 to 7.25 times projected 2003 EBITDA.
Based on this analysis, Merrill Lynch calculated a range of values for CNG
common stock of $55.50 per share to $63.35 per share.
Analysis of Selected Comparable Acquisitions. Merrill Lynch also reviewed
publicly available information relating to certain merger and acquisition
transactions in respect of companies primarily engaged in natural gas and
energy services operations. With respect to CNG, Merrill Lynch examined
multiples of the consideration paid for the common equity and the value of the
indebtedness assumed in each of the transactions to, among other measures, such
acquired companies' EBITDA and EBIT and examined multiples of the value of the
common equity in each of the transactions to net income.
The transactions in the natural gas and energy services industry that Merrill
Lynch reviewed were the following (the Comparable Transactions), with relevant
announcement dates in parentheses:
. Transco Energy Company's acquisition of Texas Gas Transmission Corporation
(December 1988);
. Panhandle Eastern Corporation's acquisition of Texas Eastern Corporation
(February 1989);
. The Williams Companies, Inc.'s acquisition of Transco Energy Company
(December 1994);
. Texas Utilities Company's acquisition of ENSERCH Corporation (April 1996);
. El Paso Energy Corporation's acquisition of Tenneco Energy (July 1996);
. Houston Industries Inc.'s acquisition of NorAm Energy Corp. (August 1996);
. Pacific Enterprises' acquisition of Enova Corporation (October 1996);
. Duke Power Co.'s acquisition of PanEnergy Corp. (November 1996);
. KN Energy, Inc.'s acquisition of Midcon Corp. (December 1997);
. TransCanada Pipelines Limited's acquisition of NOVA Corporation (January
1998);
. CMS Energy Corporation's acquisition of Duke Energy's Panhandle Eastern
Pipeline Company and Trunkline Gas Company (November 1998);
45
<PAGE>
The Mergers
. Sempra Energy's acquisition of KN Energy, Inc. (February 1999); and
. El Paso Energy Corporation's acquisition of Sonat Inc. (March 1999).
In order to determine a range of per share values based on Comparable
Transactions analysis, Merrill Lynch (i) compared the offer value (defined to
be consideration paid for the common equity) in each of the Comparable
Transactions as a multiple of the then publicly available latest twelve months
(LTM) net income to common shareholders (the Net Income Multiple) and (ii)
compared the transaction value (defined to be the offer value plus the
liquidation value of preferred stock plus the principal amount of debt less
cash) for each of the Comparable Transactions as a multiple of the then
publicly available (a) LTM EBITDA (the EBITDA Multiple) and (b) LTM EBIT (the
EBIT Multiple), to the corresponding multiples for the Second Merger. The
results of the foregoing were: (i) the Net Income Multiple resulted in a range
of per share prices of between $57.12 and $66.14, (ii) the EBITDA Multiple
resulted in a range of implied per share prices of between $58.60 and $63.21,
and (iii) the EBIT Multiple resulted in a range of per share prices of between
$53.49 to $64.78.
Utilizing the Comparable Transactions analysis, Merrill Lynch calculated a
per share price range of $56.95 to $65.72.
Because the reasons for, and circumstances surrounding, each of the
transactions analyzed were so diverse and due to the inherent differences
between the operations and financial conditions of CNG and the selected
companies, Merrill Lynch believes that a purely quantitative comparable
transaction analysis would not be dispositive in the context of the Second
Merger. Merrill Lynch further believes that an appropriate use of a comparable
transaction analysis in this instance involves qualitative judgments concerning
the differences between the characteristics of these transactions and the
Second Merger that would affect the value of the acquired companies and
businesses and CNG, which judgments are reflected in Merrill Lynch's opinion.
Merger Premium Analysis. In order to determine price per share range based
upon merger premium analysis (Merger Premium Analysis), Merrill Lynch examined
the premiums paid for target company shares in certain mergers over the pre-
announcement stock prices of such target companies.
Merrill Lynch examined premiums paid for the target's equity over pre-
announcement stock prices one day prior to announcement, one week prior to
announcement and four weeks prior to announcement (i) in all U.S. public merger
transactions with an enterprise value in excess of $5.0 billion for the periods
of 1994 to present, 1995 to present, 1996 to present, 1997 to present and 1998
to present; (ii) all U.S. natural gas and electric transactions with an equity
value in excess of $1.0 billion for the periods 1992 to present, 1993 to
present, 1994 to present, 1995 to present, 1996 to present, 1997 to present and
1998 to present; and (iii) selected natural gas company transactions. Based on
this analysis, Merrill Lynch calculated a per share price range of $63.53 to
$67.91.
Because the reasons for, and circumstances surrounding, each of the
transactions analyzed were different, Merrill Lynch believes that a purely
quantitative merger premium analysis would not be dispositive in the context of
the Second Merger. Merrill Lynch further believes that an appropriate use of a
merger premium analysis in this instance involves quantitative judgments
concerning the differences between the characteristics of these transactions
and the Second Merger that would affect the value of the acquired companies and
businesses and CNG, which judgments are reflected in Merrill Lynch's opinion.
Analysis of Selected Publicly Traded Comparable Companies. Using publicly
available information, Merrill Lynch compared selected historical stock,
financial and operating ratios for CNG with corresponding data and ratios of
certain similar publicly traded companies. These companies were selected by
Merrill Lynch based upon Merrill Lynch's views as to the comparability of
financial and operating characteristics of these companies to CNG. With respect
to each such analysis, Merrill Lynch made such comparisons among the following
companies: The Coastal Corporation, Columbia Energy Group, El Paso Energy
Corporation, Enron Corp., KN Energy, Inc., Questar Corporation, Sonat Inc. and
The Williams Companies, Inc. (the Comparable Companies).
46
<PAGE>
The Mergers
In order to determine a per share price range based upon an analysis of
comparable publicly traded companies, Merrill Lynch compared the market value
of CNG common stock as a multiple of (i) estimated 1999 EPS (the 1999 EPS
Ratio) and (ii) estimated 2000 EPS (the 2000 EPS Ratio) to the corresponding
ratios for each of the Comparable Companies. The earnings estimates were
obtained from IBES and First Call, data services which monitor and publish a
compilation of earnings estimates produced by selected research analysts on
companies of interest to investors. Additionally, Merrill Lynch compared the
market capitalization of CNG as a multiple of estimated 1999 EBITDA (the 1999
EBITDA Ratio) and estimated 2000 EBITDA (the 2000 EBITDA Ratio) to the
corresponding ratios for each of the Comparable Companies. Merrill Lynch
determined that the range of trading multiples for the Comparable Companies
were 16.0 to 18.0, 13.0 to 15.0, 7.5 to 8.0, and 7.0 to 7.5 for 1999 estimated
net income, 2000 estimated net income, 1999 estimated EBITDA and 2000 estimated
EBITDA, respectively. Such multiples were applied to CNG's forecast of each
respective financial measure, providing the following per share prices: (i) the
1999 EPS Ratio resulted in a range of per share prices of between $59.12 and
$66.51; (ii) the 2000 EPS Ratio resulted in a range of per share prices of
between $52.52 and $60.60; (iii) the 1999 EBITDA Ratio resulted in a range of
per share prices of between $58.91 and $64.16; and (iv) the 2000 EBITDA Ratio
resulted in a range of per share prices of between $60.38 and $66.11.
Because of the inherent differences among the operations of CNG and the
selected Comparable Companies, Merrill Lynch believes that a purely
quantitative comparable company analysis would not be dispositive in the
context of the Second Merger. Merrill Lynch further believes that an
appropriate use of a comparable company analysis in this instance involves
quantitative judgments concerning the differences between the characteristics
of these companies and CNG that would affect the value of the Comparable
Companies and businesses and CNG, which judgments are reflected in Merrill
Lynch's opinion.
Purchase Price Analysis and Stock Trading History. Merrill Lynch examined the
history of trading prices and volume for the CNG common stock and the Dominion
Resources common stock and various historical information relating to such
common stocks.
Pro Forma Merger Analysis. Merrill Lynch analyzed certain pro forma effects
which could result from the mergers, based on financial forecasts provided by
CNG's management for CNG's 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 fiscal years and
financial forecasts provided by Dominion Resources' management for Dominion
Resources' 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 fiscal years. Merrill Lynch was
advised by the management of CNG that the Second Merger will be accounted for
as a purchase under generally accepted accounting principles. Management of CNG
also provided Merrill Lynch with projections of certain synergies estimated to
result from the Second Merger and to be retained by the shareholders of the
combined entity. This analysis indicated that the mergers would be dilutive to
the forecasted earnings per share of Dominion Resources for its 2000 and 2001
fiscal years and accretive to forecasted earnings per share for the full fiscal
year ended December 31, 2002 after giving effect to the mergers.
Other Factors and Analyses. In the course of preparing its opinion, Merrill
Lynch performed certain other analyses and reviewed certain other matters,
including, among other things, (i) historical and expected trading
characteristics of the CNG common stock and the Dominion Resources common
stock; (ii) financing considerations relating to the mergers and (iii) the pro
forma capitalization of the combined company.
Merrill Lynch is an internationally recognized investment banking firm and,
as a part of its investment banking business, is regularly engaged in the
valuation of businesses and securities in connection with mergers and
acquisitions. The CNG Board selected Merrill Lynch as its financial advisor
because of Merrill Lynch's experience and expertise and because it is familiar
with CNG and its business.
Pursuant to the terms of Merrill Lynch's engagement, CNG has agreed to pay
Merrill Lynch for its financial advisory services in connection with the
mergers a fee equal to 0.3 percent of the aggregate Purchase Price, defined in
Merrill Lynch's engagement letter as the amount equal to the sum of the
aggregate fair market value of any securities issued and any other non-cash
consideration delivered (including, without limitation, any joint venture
interest delivered to, or retained by, CNG), and any cash consideration paid to
CNG or its security holders in connection with a business combination. This fee
is payable as follows: (i) a fee of $5,000,000,
47
<PAGE>
The Mergers
payable upon the execution of the original merger agreement dated February 20,
1999; (ii) a fee of $5,000,000, payable upon the approval of the Agreement by
the holders of CNG common stock; and (iii) any remaining unpaid portion of such
fee, payable on closing of the Second Merger. CNG also has agreed to reimburse
Merrill Lynch for its out-of-pocket expenses, including the fees and expenses
of legal counsel and any other advisor retained by Merrill Lynch, and to
indemnify Merrill Lynch against certain liabilities, including liabilities
under the federal securities laws, or to contribute to payments Merrill Lynch
may be required to make in respect thereof.
In the ordinary course of business, Merrill Lynch and its affiliates may
actively trade the equity securities of CNG and Dominion Resources for their
own account and for accounts of customers and, accordingly, may at any time
hold a long or short position in such securities. Merrill Lynch has in the past
provided financing and investment banking advisory services to CNG and Dominion
Resources, for which it received customary compensation.
Appraisal Rights of CNG Shareholders
If the mergers are completed, CNG shareholders who do not vote for the
adoption of the merger agreement and who otherwise comply with the provisions
of Section 262 of the Delaware General Corporation Law summarized below will be
entitled to an appraisal by the Delaware Court of Chancery of the "fair value"
of their CNG shares. To perfect their appraisal rights, CNG shareholders must
strictly comply with the procedures in Section 262. Failure to strictly comply
with these procedures will result in the loss of appraisal rights. Holders of
options to acquire CNG shares will not be entitled to appraisal rights with
respect to their options.
The following is a summary of the material aspects of Section 262. The full
text of Section 262 is reprinted as Annex D to this joint proxy
statement/prospectus. You should read Annex D in its entirety.
To perfect appraisal rights under Section 262 with respect to his or her CNG
shares, a CNG shareholder:
1. must not vote for the adoption of the merger agreement; and
2. must deliver to CNG a written demand for appraisal of his or her CNG
shares before the vote on the proposal to adopt the merger agreement.
In order not to vote in favor of the adoption of the merger agreement, a CNG
shareholder must either:
1. not return a proxy card and not vote in person in favor of the adoption
of the merger agreement;
2. return a proxy card with the "Against" or "Abstain" box checked;
3. vote in person against the adoption of the merger agreement; or
4. register in person an abstention from the proposal to adopt the merger
agreement.
A written demand for appraisal must reasonably inform CNG of the identity of
the CNG shareholder and his or her intent to demand appraisal of his or her CNG
shares. This written demand for appraisal must be separate from any proxy or
vote in person against or abstaining from the adoption of the merger agreement.
A proxy or vote in person against the adoption of the merger agreement will
not, in and of itself, constitute a demand for appraisal.
A CNG shareholder wishing to assert appraisal rights must be the record
holder of his or her CNG shares on the date the written demand for appraisal is
made. Only a holder of record of CNG shares is entitled to assert appraisal
rights for the CNG shares registered in that holder's name. Moreover, to
preserve his or her appraisal rights, a CNG shareholder must continue to hold
his or her shares through the Effective Time. Accordingly, a CNG shareholder
who is the record holder of CNG shares on the date the written demand for
appraisal is made, but who subsequently transfers shares prior to the Effective
Time, will lose any right to appraisal in respect of those shares.
48
<PAGE>
The Mergers
All written demands for appraisal must be mailed or delivered to:
Consolidated Natural Gas Company
CNG Tower
625 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
Attention: Corporate Secretary
or should be delivered to the Secretary at the CNG special meeting prior to the
vote on the merger agreement.
Within ten days after the Effective Time, CNG will notify each CNG
shareholder who properly delivered to CNG a written demand for appraisal and
has not voted for the adoption of the merger agreement of the Effective Time.
Within 120 days after the effective time, any CNG shareholder who has
complied with the provisions will be entitled, within ten days after written
request, to receive from CNG a statement of the aggregate number of CNG shares
not voted in favor of the adoption of the merger agreement and with respect to
which demands for appraisal were received, and the number of holders of those
shares.
Within 120 days after the Effective Time, CNG or any CNG shareholder who has
complied with the above requirements may file a petition in the Delaware Court
of Chancery demanding a determination of the fair value of CNG shares. If no
such petition is filed, appraisal rights will be lost for all CNG shareholders
who had previously demanded appraisal of their shares. CNG is not under any
obligation, and has no present intention, to file a petition with respect to
appraisal of the value of the CNG shares.
Any CNG shareholder who properly demands appraisal of his or her CNG shares
but fails to perfect, or effectively withdraws or loses, his or her right to
appraisal, will then have the right to receive the consideration shares for his
or her shares in accordance with the terms of the Second Merger.
If a petition for an appraisal is timely filed and a copy served upon CNG,
CNG will then be obligated within 20 days to file with the Delaware Register in
Chancery a list containing the names and addresses of the CNG shareholders who
have demanded appraisal of their CNG shares and with whom agreements as to the
value of their shares have not been reached. After notice to the CNG
shareholders as required by the Delaware Court of Chancery, the Delaware Court
of Chancery may conduct a hearing on such petition to determine those CNG
shareholders entitled to appraisal rights. The Delaware Court of Chancery may
require the CNG shareholders who demanded appraisal rights of their CNG shares
to submit their stock certificates to the Delaware Register in Chancery for
notation of the pendency of the appraisal proceeding. If any CNG shareholder
fails to comply, the Delaware Court of Chancery may dismiss the proceedings as
to that CNG shareholder.
After determining which CNG shareholders are entitled to appraisal, the
Delaware Court of Chancery will appraise the "fair value" of their shares of
CNG common stock, exclusive of any element of value arising from the
accomplishment or expectation of the merger, together with a fair rate of
interest, if any, to be paid upon the amount determined to be the fair value.
CNG shareholders considering seeking appraisal should be aware that the fair
value of their shares as determined under Section 262 could be more than, the
same as or less than the consideration they are entitled to receive under the
terms of the Second Merger if they did not seek appraisal of their CNG shares,
and that investment banking opinions as to fairness from a financial point of
view are not necessarily opinions as to fair value under Section 262.
In determining "fair value" of shares, the Delaware Court of Chancery shall
take into account all relevant factors. In Weinberger v. UOP, Inc., the
Delaware Supreme Court stated that these factors include "market value, asset
value, dividends, earnings prospects, the nature of the enterprise and any
other facts which were known or which could be ascertained as of the date of
the Second Merger which throw any light on future prospects of the merger
corporation." In Weinberger, the Delaware Supreme Court stated, among other
things,
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<PAGE>
The Mergers
that "proof of value by any techniques or methods generally considered
acceptable in the financial community and otherwise admissible in court" should
be considered in an appraisal proceeding. In addition, the Delaware Court of
Chancery has decided that the statutory appraisal remedy, depending on factual
circumstances, may or may not be a dissenter's exclusive remedy.
The costs of an appraisal action may be determined by the Delaware Court of
Chancery and charged to the parties as the Delaware Court of Chancery deems
equitable. The Delaware Court of Chancery may also order that all or a portion
of the expenses incurred by any CNG shareholder in connection with an appraisal
be charged pro rata against the value of all of the shares entitled to
appraisal. In the absence of such determination or assessment, each party bears
its own expenses.
At any time within 60 days after the Effective Time, any CNG shareholder will
have the right to withdraw his or her demand for appraisal and to accept the
consideration offered for CNG shares in accordance with the terms of the Second
Merger. After this period, a CNG shareholder may withdraw his or her demand for
appraisal only with the written consent of CNG. No petition timely filed in the
Delaware Court of Chancery demanding appraisal will be dismissed as to any CNG
shareholder without the approval of the Delaware Court of Chancery, which may
be conditioned on terms the Delaware Court of Chancery deems just.
Any CNG shareholder who has demanded and perfected an appraisal in compliance
with Section 262 will not, after the Effective Time of the Second Merger, be
entitled to vote his or her shares for any purpose or be entitled to the
payment of dividends, except dividends payable to CNG shareholders prior to the
effective time.
Pursuant to the merger agreement, Dominion Resources will have the
opportunity to direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to demands
for appraisal.
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following discussion describes the material U.S. federal income tax
consequences of the mergers. This discussion is for general information only
and does not purport to consider all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation
that may be relevant to a CNG shareholder or to a Dominion Resources
shareholder. This discussion is based upon the provisions of the Internal
Revenue Code (Code), existing regulations promulgated thereunder and
administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, all as in effect as of the
date hereof and all of which are subject to change (possibly with retroactive
effect). This discussion applies only to shareholders who hold their CNG common
stock or their Dominion Resources common stock as capital assets within the
meaning of Code Section 1221, and does not apply to CNG common stock or
Dominion Resources common stock received pursuant to the exercise of options or
similar securities or otherwise as compensation, CNG common stock or Dominion
Resources common stock held as part of a "straddle," "hedge," "conversion
transaction," "synthetic security," or other integrated investment, or to
certain types of shareholders (including without limitation, financial
institutions, insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations and broker dealers)
who may be subject to special rules. This discussion does not discuss the U.S.
federal income tax consequences to a shareholder who, for U.S. federal income
tax purposes, is a non-resident alien individual, a foreign corporation, a
foreign partnership, or a foreign estate or trust, nor does it consider the
effect of any foreign, state, local or other tax laws.
Because individual circumstances may differ, shareholders of CNG common stock
and Dominion Resources common stock should consult their tax advisors to
determine the tax effect to them of the mergers, including the application and
effect of foreign, state, local or other tax laws.
The Mergers
The consummation of the mergers is conditioned upon the receipt by (A)
Dominion Resources of an opinion of counsel substantially to the effect that
the Second Merger will be a reorganization for U.S. federal income tax purposes
within the meaning of Code section 368, and (B) CNG of an opinion of counsel
substantially to the effect that (i) the Second Merger will constitute a
reorganization for U.S. federal income tax purposes within the meaning of Code
section 368(a)(1)(A), and (ii) no gain or loss will be recognized by the
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The Mergers
shareholders of CNG who receive solely shares of Dominion Resources common
stock pursuant to the Second Merger. The opinions will be based upon certain
customary assumptions and representations of fact, including representations of
fact contained in certificates of officers of Dominion Resources, CNG and
others, all of which must be true, correct and complete in all material
respects as of the Effective Time of the Second Merger. No ruling has been
sought from the Internal Revenue Service as to the U.S. federal income tax
consequences of the mergers, and the opinions of counsel are not binding upon
the Internal Revenue Service or any court. Accordingly, there can be no
assurances that the Internal Revenue Service will not contest the conclusions
expressed therein or that a court will not sustain such contest.
First Merger
Dominion Resources Shareholders Who Receive Solely Dominion Resources Common
Stock.
A Dominion Resources shareholder who receives solely stock for shares of
Dominion Resources common stock in the First Merger will not recognize any gain
or loss. The aggregate adjusted tax basis of Dominion Resources common stock
received in the exchange will equal such shareholder's aggregate adjusted tax
basis in the Dominion Resources common stock surrendered, if any. The holding
period for shares of Dominion Resources common stock received solely in
exchange for shares of Dominion Resources common stock surrendered pursuant to
the First Merger will include the holding period of the shares of Dominion
Resources common stock surrendered, provided the Dominion Resources common
stock surrendered was held as a capital asset of the time of the First Merger.
Dominion Resources Shareholders Who Receive Solely Cash or Cash and Dominion
Resources Common Stock.
The exchange by a shareholder of some or all of his Dominion Resources common
stock for cash (including any cash received in lieu of a fractional share of
Dominion Resources common stock) will generally be treated as a taxable
transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a consequence of the
exchange, such shareholder will, depending on such shareholder's particular
circumstances, be treated either as having sold some or all of his or her
Dominion Resources common stock for the cash consideration received or as
having received a dividend distribution from Dominion Resources.
A shareholder who exchanges Dominion Resources common stock for cash in the
First Merger will be treated as having sold his or her shares, and will
recognize capital gain or loss in the exchange, if the exchange (a) results in
a "complete termination" of such shareholder's stock interest in Dominion
Resources, (b) results in a "substantially disproportionate" reduction in such
shareholder's stock interest or (c) is not "essentially equivalent to a
dividend" with respect to such shareholder. In applying these tests, a
shareholder will be treated as owning shares actually or "constructively" owned
by certain related individuals and entities and shares which the shareholder
has the right to acquire by exercise of an option.
Substantially Disproportionate Distributions. An exchange of Dominion
Resources common stock for cash will be "substantially disproportionate" if the
percentage of the outstanding shares of Dominion Resources common stock
actually and constructively owned by such shareholder immediately after the
transaction is less than 80 percent of the shares owned by such shareholder
immediately before the transaction.
Distributions Not Essentially Equivalent to a Dividend. A shareholder will
satisfy the "not essentially equivalent to a dividend" test if the reduction in
such shareholder's proportionate stock interest in Dominion Resources as a
result of the transaction constitutes a "meaningful reduction" in his stock
interest given such shareholder's particular facts and circumstances. The
Internal Revenue Service has indicated in published rulings that any reduction
in the percentage interest of a shareholder whose relative stock interest in a
publicly held corporation is minimal (an interest of less than one percent
should satisfy this requirement) and who exercises no control over corporate
affairs should constitute such a "meaningful reduction." Shareholders who own
one percent or more of the Dominion Resources common stock, either directly or
by attribution, or who exercise control over corporate affairs should consult
their tax advisors with respect to whether or not any cash they receive in the
First Merger is "not essentially equivalent to a dividend."
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The Mergers
Application of the "Substantially Disproportionate" and the "Not Essentially
Equivalent to a Dividend" Tests. While the matter is not free from doubt and
there is no authoritative precedent for the transactions contemplated by the
mergers, both the First and Second Mergers should be considered a single
integrated transaction for purposes of applying the preceding tests to the
First Merger. As a result, it is likely the preceding tests will be applied by
comparing a shareholder's proportionate stock interest in Dominion Resources
before the mergers with his stock interest in Dominion Resources after both
mergers, giving full effect to any dilution resulting from the issuance of
Dominion Resources common stock to former CNG shareholders in the Second
Merger.
Sale or Exchange Treatment. If a shareholder is treated as having sold all or
a portion of his shares of Dominion Resources common stock under the tests
described above, he will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between
the amount of cash received and his tax basis in the Dominion Resources common
stock exchanged. Any such gain or loss will be capital gain or loss and will be
long-term capital gain or loss if the holding period of such shares of Dominion
Resources common stock exceeds one year as of the date of the exchange. Long-
term capital gain recognized by certain non-corporate shareholders will be
eligible for a maximum U.S. federal income tax rate of 20 percent. Individuals
generally are permitted to deduct capital losses only to the extent of the sum
of their capital gains from other sources plus three thousand dollars and are
permitted to carry unused capital losses to succeeding taxable years, subject
to this limitation.
No gain or loss will be recognized with respect to the portion, if any, of a
shareholder's Dominion Resources common stock that is exchanged solely for
Dominion Resources common stock in the First Merger. The aggregate adjusted tax
basis of Dominion Resources common stock received in the exchange will equal
such shareholder's aggregate adjusted tax basis in the Dominion Resources
common stock surrendered in exchange. The holding period for shares of Dominion
Resources common stock received solely in exchange for shares of Dominion
Resources common stock surrendered in the First Merger will include the holding
period of the shares of Dominion Resources common stock surrendered.
Dividend Treatment. If a Dominion Resources shareholder who receives cash
pursuant to the First Merger is not treated under the foregoing tests as having
sold his Dominion Resources common stock for cash, the entire amount of cash
received will be treated as a dividend distribution to the extent of Dominion
Resources' current and accumulated earnings and profits (which Dominion
Resources believes will be sufficient to cover the full amount of any such
distribution) and will be includible in the shareholder's gross income as
ordinary income in its entirety, without reduction for the tax basis of the
shares exchanged. The shareholder's tax basis in the shares surrendered would
be added to the shareholder's basis in his remaining Dominion Resources shares,
if any. To the extent that the cash received in exchange for shares of Dominion
Resources common stock is treated as a dividend to a corporate shareholder,
such shareholder will be (i) eligible for a dividends-received deduction
(subject to applicable limitations) and (ii) subject to the "extraordinary
dividend" provisions of the Code.
To the extent, if any, that the cash received by a shareholder exceeds
Dominion Resources' current and accumulated earnings and profits, it will be
treated first as a tax-free reduction of such shareholder's tax basis in the
Dominion Resources common stock and thereafter as capital gain. Any such gain
will be capital gain and will be long-term capital gain if the holding period
of such shares of Dominion Resources common stock exceeds one year as of the
date of the exchange. Long-term capital gain recognized by certain non-
corporate shareholders will be eligible for a maximum U.S. federal income tax
rate of 20 percent.
No gain or loss will be recognized with respect to the portion, if any, of a
shareholder's Dominion Resources common stock that is exchanged solely for
Dominion Resources common stock. The shareholder's aggregate adjusted tax basis
in the shares of Dominion Resources common stock received in the exchange will
equal such shareholder's aggregate adjusted tax basis in all of the shares of
Dominion Resources common stock surrendered, including the portion of the
shares exchanged for cash. The shareholder's holding period in that Dominion
Resources common stock received will include the period the shares surrendered
in the First Merger were held.
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The Mergers
Second Merger
CNG Shareholders Who Receive Solely Dominion Resources Common Stock.
A shareholder of CNG common stock who exchanges that stock solely for shares
of Dominion Resources common stock in the Second Merger will not recognize any
gain or loss on that exchange, except to the extent such shareholder receives
cash in lieu of a fractional share which should be treated as proceeds from the
sale of such fractional share. The aggregate adjusted tax basis of Dominion
Resources common stock received will equal the shareholder's aggregate adjusted
tax basis in the CNG common stock surrendered. The holding period of the
Dominion Resources common stock received pursuant to the Second Merger will
include the holding period of the CNG common stock surrendered therefor.
CNG Shareholders Who Receive Solely Cash.
A shareholder of CNG common stock who exchanges that stock solely for cash
consideration in the Second Merger will generally recognize capital gain or
loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount of cash
consideration received and the shareholder's adjusted tax basis in the CNG
common stock surrendered therefor. The capital gain or loss recognized will be
long-term capital gain or loss if the shareholder's holding period for the CNG
common stock so surrendered exceeds one year, and, with respect to certain non-
corporate shareholders, will be eligible for a maximum U.S. federal income tax
rate of 20 percent.
CNG Shareholders Who Receive Cash and Dominion Resources Common Stock.
A shareholder of CNG common stock who exchanges that stock for both cash
consideration (other than any cash received in lieu of a fractional share of
Dominion Resources common stock) and Dominion Resources common stock in the
Second Merger will generally realize gain or loss in an amount equal to the
difference between the sum of the cash and the fair market value of the
Dominion Resources common stock received and the shareholder's adjusted tax
basis in the CNG common stock surrendered. The shareholder's gain, if any, will
be recognized, however, only to the extent of the amount of cash consideration
received by the shareholder. Any loss will not be recognized. Complicated rules
apply for purposes of determining the character of any gain recognized.
However, any gain recognized by a shareholder who receives both cash and
Dominion Resources common stock will, under most circumstances, be treated as
capital gain.
Shareholders who receive cash in the Second Merger and who would have owned
one percent or more of the Dominion Resources common stock if they had
exchanged all of the CNG common stock for Dominion Resources common stock
(after taking into account the mergers) or who exercise control over Dominion
Resources corporate affairs should consult their tax advisors regarding the
character of any gain recognized in the Second Merger.
A shareholder who receives cash in lieu of fractional shares of Dominion
Resources common stock will be treated as if he or she had received such
fractional share and sold it for such cash.
The aggregate adjusted tax basis of the Dominion Resources common stock
received will equal the shareholder's adjusted tax basis in the CNG common
stock surrendered, decreased by the amount of cash received by the shareholder
and increased by the amount of gain, if any, recognized by the shareholder. The
holding period of the Dominion Resources common stock received in the Second
Merger will include the holding period of the CNG common stock surrendered
therefor.
Interest of Certain Persons in the Mergers
Certain members of CNG's management and the CNG Board of Directors have
interests in the Second Merger that are in addition to their interests as
holders of CNG common stock generally. These persons have participated in the
negotiation of the terms of the merger agreement and the transactions it
contemplates, including the Second Merger. Certain CNG executive officers and
members of the Dominion Resources Board
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The Mergers
of Directors and the CNG Board of Directors will be executive officers of
Dominion Resources and/or members of the Dominion Resources Board of Directors
after the Effective Time. It is possible that the combined company will enter
into employment agreements with certain of such executive officers and
directors. Certain CNG executive officers and members of the CNG Board of
Directors may also be entitled to receive benefits as a result of the Second
Merger under the terms of benefit plans and agreements maintained by CNG. In
addition, Dominion Resources has agreed to provide insurance and
indemnification for executive officers and directors of CNG after the Effective
Time. Both Boards of Directors were aware of the additional interests and took
them into consideration at the time the mergers were approved.
Change of Control Agreements. CNG has Change of Control Agreements and Salary
Continuation Agreements (collectively referred to as the Change of Control
Agreements) with all CNG executive officers and certain other key employees.
The purpose of the Change of Control Agreements is to assure the objective
judgment and to retain the loyalty of these key employees in the event of a
change of control (as defined) of CNG. For purposes of the Change of Control
Agreements, a change of control includes, among other things, shareholder
approval of any merger, acquisition or consolidation following which the former
shareholders of CNG own less than 60 percent of the surviving entity. The
approval by shareholders of the merger agreement will constitute a change of
control under the Change of Control Agreements.
The exact terms of the Change of Control Agreements vary, and generally fit
within four categories. Generally, the Change of Control Agreements entitle
eligible employees, in certain circumstances, including but not limited to, a
termination or constructive termination of the employee by CNG within two or
three years after a Change of Control (and prior to the expiration of the
Change of Control Agreements), to receive some or all of the following: (i)
payment equal to one of the following: 12 months of salary continuation plus
severance; 18 months of salary continuation plus severance; or a lump sum
payment of two or three times the sum of their base salary plus target bonus,
(ii) enhanced non-qualified retirement benefits, (iii) payment for or continued
health and other welfare benefits generally for up to three years (including a
tax gross-up on lump sum payments for certain employees) but in certain
instances, for life and (iv) various other benefits such as outplacement
services (with a tax gross-up for certain employees). The eligible employees
are also eligible for an additional payment, if required, to make them whole
for any excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code. With
respect to certain Change of Control Agreements, the employee can unilaterally
trigger these payments by terminating his or her employment for any reason
during the 30 day period following the first anniversary of the Change of
Control.
The total amount that may be payable upon termination or constructive
termination to CNG's executive officers in connection with the Second Merger
pursuant to the Change of Control Agreements is expected to be material. Since
it is not known which, if any, individuals will receive payments under the
Change of Control Agreements, the amount cannot presently be determined.
CNG Stock Based Incentive Plans; CNG Stock Options and Restricted
Stock. CNG's Long Term Incentive Plan and 1991, 1995 and 1997 Stock Incentive
Plans (CNG Incentive Plans) provide for awards of stock options, stock
appreciation rights, restricted stock, deferred stock, and performance awards
to employees selected by the CNG Human Resources Committee (Awards). The
executive officers of CNG have received Awards. Upon a change of control (as
defined in the CNG Incentive Plans), some or all of the Awards previously
granted to those employees will become fully or partially exercisable, vested,
or earned. For purposes of the CNG Incentive Plans a change of control
includes, among other things, shareholder approval of any merger, acquisition
or consolidation following which the shareholders of CNG own less than 60
percent of the surviving entity. Approval by shareholders of the Second Merger
will constitute a change of control under the CNG Incentive Plans. For 60 days
after a change of control, the holders of Awards may elect to receive a payment
equal to the value of the Awards based on (i) CNG stock valued at the higher of
(a) the highest price of CNG stock during the 30 days before a change of
control or (b) the amount paid to other CNG shareholders in the Second Merger
and (ii) the fair market value of property other than shares. It is likely that
holders of most of the Awards will elect to receive payment during the 60 day
window after the change of control. See Footnote H to Notes to the UNAUDITED
PRO FORMA COMBINED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA.
Certain rights with respect to CNG common stock pursuant to Awards
outstanding under the CNG Incentive Plans, which are not then vested or
exercisable, will accelerate in whole or in part upon a change of
54
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The Mergers
control. As of the date of the merger agreement, executive officers held
339,345 outstanding and unvested stock options and 83,949 shares of unvested
restricted stock that could vest as a result of the change of control and
27,230 shares of vested restricted stock on which the restrictions will be
lifted as a result of the change of control.
Under the merger agreement, Dominion Resources and CNG shall use their best
efforts to take action to convert all Awards under the CNG Incentive Plans
outstanding at the Effective Time (including the Awards accelerated as a result
of the change of control) into cash equal to the fair value of the Award as
determined by Dominion Resources and CNG. See THE MERGER AGREEMENT--Treatment
of CNG Stock Options and Stock Awards. The value which would be paid to CNG
executive officers in connection with a conversion of their Awards that vest
upon the change in control is estimated to be $13 million, assuming these
Awards are not cashed out shortly after the CNG special meeting in accordance
with the terms of the plans governing the Awards.
Director Plans. The CNG Non-Employee Directors' Restricted Stock Plan
provides for grants of restricted stock to CNG directors who are not CNG
employees. After the 1997 Stock Incentive Plan was approved by the
shareholders, no more restricted stock was issued from the Non-Employee
Directors' Restricted Stock Plan. Restricted stock and CNG stock options have
been issued to non-employee directors since 1997 through the 1997 Stock
Incentive Plan. As a result of the Second Merger, all unvested awards under
both Plans will vest.
The Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors of CNG allows non-employee
directors to defer income paid by CNG. Upon a change of control, the plan
requires that CNG make an irrevocable contribution to an existing rabbi trust
(Rabbi Trust) sufficient to pay the benefits to which participants are entitled
as of the change of control. Since CNG funds deferred amounts under this plan
on an annual basis, no additional material contributions will be required upon
a change of control.
Other Benefit Plans and Agreements. Except as provided below, a change of
control will be deemed to have occurred under each of the following CNG
employee benefit plans when CNG shareholders approve the Second Merger. The
cost, if any, of the benefits payable under these plans as a result of the
change of control cannot presently be determined since it is not known which,
if any, individuals will receive benefits.
. The CNG Executive Incentive Deferral Plan covers most CNG executive
officers. The plan provides for deferral of benefits under the CNG Annual
Executive Incentive Program. Upon a change of control, future deferrals
will not be permitted and, unless the CNG Board of Directors provides
otherwise, participants' account balances (except the stock account
balances of individuals required to report under Section 16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) must be paid in full. A change of
control under the CNG Executive Incentive Deferral Plan will occur when
the Second Merger is complete.
. System Severance Pay Policy covers all non-union employees of CNG and
certain of its affiliates. With respect to executive officers, upon
certain terminations of employment as a result of job elimination, the
policy currently would provide the terminated executive officers with a
lump-sum benefit equal to two weeks of base compensation for each year of
service or part thereof (with a maximum benefit equal to one year's base
compensation) and additional COBRA-based payments.
. Unfunded Supplemental Benefit Plan for Employees of CNG and Its
Participating Subsidiaries who are not Represented by a Recognized Union
(ERISA Excess Plan) covers employees whose compensation is greater than
the limits provided in Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code or
whose benefits exceed the limits of Section 415 of the Internal Revenue
Code under the CNG pension plan or thrift plan. The ERISA Excess Plan
provides benefits to participants in an amount they would receive under
CNG's pension plan and/or thrift plan but for limits under the Internal
Revenue Code. CNG must establish an account for the ERISA Excess Plan
under the Rabbi Trust and make an irrevocable contribution in an amount
sufficient to pay benefits to which participants are entitled as of the
change of control. Under the ERISA Excess Plan following a change of
control, benefits must be paid in a lump sum upon termination or upon
reaching normal retirement age.
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<PAGE>
The Mergers
. The System Short Service Supplemental Retirement Plan for Certain
Management Employees of CNG and Its Participating Subsidiaries (Short
Service Plan) compensates certain employees of CNG for loss of pension
benefits that they would have accrued under their prior employment. Under
the Short Service Plan, a change of control accelerates vesting to the
later of the date of a change of control or five years of employment. CNG
is also required to add an account under the Rabbi Trust and make an
irrevocable contribution sufficient to pay benefits to which participants
are entitled as of the change of control.
. The Retirement and Post Retirement Benefit Plan for Certain Employees of
CNG and its Participating Subsidiaries (Post Retirement Plan) covers
substantially all CNG executive officers and other key employees of CNG.
The Post Retirement Plan is the mechanism for payment of certain benefits
which are payable under the change of control agreements. Funding under
the Rabbi Trust is also required as a result of the mergers for all
benefits payable under the Post Retirement Plan.
CNG Agreement With CEO. CNG and George A. Davidson, Jr. have entered into an
employment agreement dated December 22, 1998, and a related letter (Davidson
Agreement). Pursuant to the Davidson Agreement, Mr. Davidson will function as
Chairman of the Board and CEO of CNG until August 1, 2000. The Davidson
Agreement further provides certain levels of compensation and participation in
benefit and incentive programs. If Mr. Davidson is relieved of his duties as
Chairman, or if the position ceases to exist, or if his responsibilities as CEO
are reduced prior to August 1, 2000, Mr. Davidson may resign. In such a case,
CNG will be responsible for the compensation and benefits which would have been
payable had Mr. Davidson continued in his positions with CNG until August 1,
2000.
Indemnification and Insurance. The merger agreement provides that, to the
extent not prohibited by law, all rights of indemnification in favor of current
or former directors or officers of CNG as provided in the CNG Certificate of
Incorporation or the CNG Bylaws for acts or omissions occurring prior to the
Effective Time will continue in full force and effect from the Effective Time.
The merger agreement also provides that for a period not less than six years
from the Effective Time, Dominion Resources will cause to be maintained CNG's
directors and officers' insurance and indemnification policy to the extent that
it provides coverage for events occurring prior to the Effective Time for
directors and officers of CNG who were covered under such policy as in effect
at the Effective Time so long as the annual premium would not be in excess of
200 percent of the last annual premium paid prior to the Effective Time
(Maximum Premium). If the existing insurance expires, is terminated or is
canceled during such six-year period, Dominion Resources has agreed in the
merger agreement to use all reasonable efforts to obtain as much insurance for
the remaining period for an annualized premium not in excess of the Maximum
Premium as may be obtained on terms no less advantageous to the covered persons
than provided in the existing policy.
Accounting Treatment
The Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
appearing elsewhere in this joint proxy statement/prospectus are based upon
certain assumptions, as described in the pro forma statements, and are included
for informational purposes only. The Second Merger will be accounted for under
the purchase method of accounting, in accordance with GAAP. Under the purchase
method of accounting CNG's exploration and production properties, which are not
regulated, will be recorded at their fair values. The remaining difference
between the purchase price of CNG, including direct costs of the acquisition,
and the historical amounts of the assets and liabilities of CNG's regulated
operations will be recorded as an acquisition adjustment in accordance with
accounting for regulated public utilities. If the mergers are consummated,
Dominion Resources' financial statements will reflect effects of transaction
adjustments only from the Effective Time of the Second Merger. The actual
amounts of assets, liabilities and acquisition adjustment may differ
significantly from the amounts reflected in the Unaudited Pro Forma Combined
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
The First Merger will be treated as a reorganization with no change in the
recorded amount of Dominion Resources' assets and liabilities. The financial
statements of Dominion Resources will become the financial statements of the
surviving corporation in the First Merger, and the results of the surviving
corporation's operations will include the results of operations of CNG
commencing at the effective time of the Second Merger.
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The Mergers
CNG Shareholder Lawsuits Regarding the Mergers
On April 20, 1999, CNG and the directors party to the suit were served with a
purported class action complaint, Civil Action No. 17114-NC, styled Gerold
Garfinkel v. Raymond E. Galvin, Paul E. Lego, Margaret A. McKenna, William S.
Barrack, Jr., Steven A. Minter, J.W. Connolly, George A. Davidson, Jr., Richard
P. Simmons, and CNG. The complaint was filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery
on April 20, 1999. The complaint seeks injunctive relief in the form of an
order to the individual CNG Board members to sell CNG for the highest value to
the shareholders, an accounting of any damages resulting from any failure to
sell CNG for the highest value, a determination with respect to the
reasonableness of the break-up fee in the agreement with Dominion Resources and
other miscellaneous relief. The complaint also seeks an award of costs and
attorneys' fees. CNG is aware that several additional purported class action
complaints against CNG and its directors seeking essentially the same relief
were filed in the same court on April 20, 1999, and May 12, 1999, but those
complaints have not yet been served.
Resales of Dominion Resources Common Stock
The Dominion Resources common stock to be issued to CNG shareholders in
connection with the mergers has been registered under the Securities Act. All
shares of Dominion Resources common stock received by CNG shareholders upon
consummation of the Second Merger will be freely transferable by those CNG
shareholders who are not deemed to be "affiliates" (as defined under the
Securities Act of 1933 but generally including executive officers, directors
and shareholders owning ten percent or more) of CNG.
CNG has agreed in the merger agreement to use its best efforts to cause each
person identified by CNG as an affiliate of CNG to deliver to Dominion
Resources a written agreement to not sell, pledge, transfer or otherwise
dispose of any Dominion Resources common stock issued to him or her pursuant to
the Second Merger except in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933. The
stock certificates representing Dominion Resources common stock issued to such
affiliates in the Second Merger will bear a legend with respect to the
applicable restrictions.
Stock Exchange Listing
The merger agreement provides for the filing of, and Dominion Resources will
file, a listing application with the New York Stock Exchange covering the
shares of Dominion Resources common stock to be issued pursuant to the Second
Merger. The obligations of Dominion Resources and CNG to effect the mergers are
subject to the condition that the shares of Dominion Resources common stock to
be issued in connection with the mergers be approved for listing on the New
York Stock Exchange, subject only to official notice of issuance.
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The Merger Agreement
THE MERGER AGREEMENT
The description of the merger agreement set forth below highlights certain
important terms of the merger agreement, a copy of which is attached to this
joint proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A. This description does not purport
to be complete and it may not include all the information that interests you.
We urge you to read the merger agreement carefully and in its entirety.
Overview
The merger agreement provides for a two-step merger. In the first step,
Dominion Resources will merge with New Sub I, its wholly owned subsidiary, and
Dominion Resources will be the surviving corporation and will retain its
existing structure. The first step is referred to as the First Merger. The
second step, referred to as the Second Merger, involves either:
. CNG merging with and into New Sub II, a wholly owned Delaware
subsidiary of Dominion Resources, with New Sub II as the surviving
company; or
. CNG merging directly into Dominion Resources. In that case, Dominion
Resources will be the surviving entity (the Alternative Merger).
The surviving company in the Second Merger will assume all the rights and
obligations of CNG.
Effective Time
Promptly after the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to the mergers as
set forth in the merger agreement, the companies will file articles of merger
with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Virginia with respect to the
First Merger, as prescribed by Virginia law, and a certificate of merger with
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, with respect to the Second
Merger, as prescribed by Delaware law. In the event the companies effect the
Alternative Merger, articles of merger will be filed with the Secretary of
State of the Commonwealth of Virginia, as prescribed by Virginia law, in
addition to the certificate of merger being filed with the Secretary of State
of the State of Delaware, as prescribed by Delaware law. The mergers will
become effective upon the filing of the articles of merger or certificate of
merger or on a later date agreed to by the parties and specified in the
articles of merger or certificate of merger (or, in the case of the Alternative
Merger, on the filing of the articles of merger and the certificate of merger),
provided that the Second Merger will become effective immediately after the
First Merger.
Dominion Resources and CNG are not required to proceed with either merger
unless the conditions of both mergers are satisfied.
Effects of the Mergers
At the Effective Time of the First Merger, New Sub I will be merged with and
into Dominion Resources, and Dominion Resources will be the surviving
corporation and will continue its corporate existence with the same charter and
bylaws as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time of the First
Merger. The additional effects of the First Merger will be as set forth in the
applicable provisions of Virginia law. In the First Merger, each share of
Dominion Resources common stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time of the First Merger will be converted into the right to receive either (i)
$43.00 in cash or (ii) one share of Dominion Resources common stock, subject to
the allocation procedures described below, in either case subject to the
limitation that the aggregate amount of cash to be issued to Dominion Resources
shareholders in the First Merger shall be equal to $1,251,055,526 (plus any
cash paid for fractional shares). Dominion Resources has the option to increase
the amount of cash available for the cash election in the First Merger to an
amount no greater than $1,668,400,000 to more closely follow the actual
elections of Dominion Resources shareholders as long as the increase in the
cash consideration does not affect the desired tax treatment of the Second
Merger.
At the Effective Time of the Second Merger, CNG will be merged with and into
New Sub II, unless the Alternative Merger occurs, in which event CNG will be
merged with and into Dominion Resources, and either New Sub II or Dominion
Resources will survive, as the case may be. In any event, the separate
corporate existence of CNG will cease and the surviving entity in the Second
Merger will assume all the rights and obligations of CNG. The additional
effects of the Second Merger will be as set forth in the applicable provisions
of Delaware
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The Merger Agreement
and Virginia law. In the Second Merger, each share of CNG common stock
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time of the Second Merger will
be converted into the right to receive (i) $66.60 in cash or (ii) (x) such
number of whole shares of Dominion Resources common stock as determined in
accordance with the CNG exchange ratio described below, plus (y) cash equal to
1.52 times the excess, if any, of $43.816 over the Average Price, in either
case subject to the limitation that the number of shares of CNG common stock to
be converted into the right to receive the cash option in the Second Merger
will be 38,159,060 (adjusted to reflect any factional shares exchanged for
cash). However, Dominion Resources may reallocate the cash and shares of
Dominion Resources stock to be received by CNG shareholders to more closely
follow the actual elections of the CNG shareholders as long as the reallocation
does not affect the desired tax treatment of the Second Merger.
Dominion Resources is required to reduce the amount of cash and increase the
number of shares issued pursuant to the Second Merger to the extent necessary
to maintain the desired tax treatment of the Second Merger.
The "CNG Exchange Ratio" shall be equal to $66.60 divided by either (i) the
Average Price of Dominion Resources common stock if such Average Price is
greater than or equal to $43.816 or (ii) 1.52 if the Average Price of Dominion
Resources common stock is less than $43.816.
"Average Price" means the average of the closing prices on the New York Stock
Exchange for the 20 consecutive Trading Days during the period ending on the
tenth business day before closing.
"Trading Day" means a day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for
trading.
For a further discussion of the effect of the timing of the calculation of
the exchange ratio on what shareholders will receive, see RISK FACTORS.
Shareholders who hold certificated shares will receive cash for any
fractional share of Dominion Resources common stock received in the mergers,
based upon the market value of the Dominion Resources common stock on the date
the mergers are completed. However, any fractional shares held in certain of
CNG's or Dominion Resources' stock plans may be retained as fractional shares.
Under Delaware law, CNG shareholders who do not vote for the adoption of the
merger agreement and who otherwise comply with Section 262 of the Delaware
General Corporation Law will be entitled to demand appraisal rights.
Election
Holders of shares of Dominion Resources common stock (other than shares held
by Dominion Resources or by CNG or wholly owned subsidiaries of CNG, which will
be canceled in the First Merger) and CNG common stock (other than shares held
by Dominion Resources or wholly owned subsidiaries of Dominion Resources or by
CNG, which will be canceled in the Second Merger) issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the election deadline will be entitled to choose one of
the consideration options listed below on their form of election:
--with respect to the First Merger, Dominion Resources shareholders may
elect:
. to receive cash consideration for each share;
. to receive stock consideration for each share;
. to exchange some of their shares for cash and some for stock; or
. to indicate no preference as to type of consideration.
--with respect to the Second Merger, CNG shareholders may elect;
. to receive cash consideration for each share;
. to receive stock consideration for each share;
. to exchange some of their shares for cash and some for stock; or
. to indicate no preference as to type of consideration.
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The Merger Agreement
In the case of shareholders who do not indicate a preference for cash or
stock or who do not make an election, Dominion Resources will determine whether
to distribute cash or stock or a combination of cash and stock.
A form of election and complete instructions for properly making an election
to receive cash, Dominion Resources common stock or a combination of cash and
stock will be mailed to shareholders not more than 90 days nor less than 30
days before the anticipated day of the closing of the mergers.
Limits on Cash and Stock Consideration
Under the merger agreement, a fixed amount of cash consideration (the
Dominion Resources Cash Amount) will be paid to shareholders of Dominion
Resources common stock in the First Merger. The Dominion Resources Cash Amount
is equal to $1,251,055,526. The number of common shares of Dominion Resources
to be converted into the right to receive cash consideration under the merger
agreement (the Dominion Resources Cash Number) will be equal to the Dominion
Resources Cash Amount divided by $43.00. The number of Dominion Resources
common shares to be converted into the right to receive Dominion Resources
common stock (the Dominion Resources Stock Number) shall equal the number of
Dominion Resources common shares eligible to receive consideration in the First
Merger at the Effective Time less the Dominion Resources Cash Number. The
Dominion Resources Cash Amount may be increased to an amount no greater than
$1,668,400,000 to follow more closely the actual election of Dominion Resources
shareholders.
The number of CNG common shares that may be converted into the right to
receive cash consideration (the CNG Cash Number) in the Second Merger will be
38,159,060 less the aggregate number of shares of CNG common stock to be
exchanged for cash in lieu of fractional shares of Dominion Resources common
stock. The number of CNG shares to be converted into the right to receive
Dominion Resources common stock (the CNG Stock Number) in the Second Merger
shall equal the number of CNG common shares eligible to receive consideration
in the Second Merger at the Effective Time, less the CNG Cash Number less the
aggregate number of shares of CNG common stock to be exchanged for cash in lieu
of fractional shares of Dominion Resources common stock.
Allocation
If the aggregate number of shares of Dominion Resources common stock for
which cash is elected by Dominion Resources shareholders exceeds the Dominion
Resources Cash Number, then:
(1) those shares with respect to which stock elections or no elections were
made will be exchanged for Dominion Resources common stock; and
(2) the Dominion Resources Cash Amount will be prorated among the other
shares for which cash elections were made.
All shares not converted into cash under (2) above will be converted into
Dominion Resources common stock, except that cash, without interest, will be
paid in place of any fractional shares.
If the aggregate number of shares of Dominion Resources common stock for
which stock consideration is elected exceeds the Dominion Resources Stock
Number, then:
(1) all shares with respect to which a cash election or no election was
made will be exchanged for cash;
(2) the remaining portion of the Dominion Resources Cash Amount which was
not distributed pursuant to (1) above shall be prorated among the other
shares of Dominion Resources common stock for which stock elections
were made; and
(3) all shares for which stock was elected which are not exchanged for cash
pursuant to (2) above shall be converted into the right to receive
stock consideration, except that cash, without interest, will be paid
in place of fractional shares of Dominion Resources common stock.
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If the aggregate number of shares of CNG common stock for which cash is
elected exceeds the CNG Cash Number, then:
(1) those shares with respect to which stock elections or no elections
were made will be exchanged for Dominion Resources common stock plus
the Top-Up Amount (if applicable) except that cash, without interest,
will be paid in place of fractional shares of Dominion Resources
common stock; and
(2) with respect to those shares to which cash elections were made, cash
consideration will be prorated, by multiplying the number of shares
each CNG shareholder has elected to exchange for cash by a fraction,
the numerator of which is the CNG Cash Number and the denominator of
which is the aggregate number of shares of CNG common stock for which a
cash election has been made.
All shares not converted into cash under (2) above will be converted into
Dominion Resources common stock plus the Top-Up Amount (if applicable), except
that cash, without interest, will be paid in place of any fractional shares of
Dominion Resources common stock.
If the aggregate number of shares of CNG common stock for which stock
consideration is elected exceeds the CNG Stock Number, then:
(1) all shares with respect to which a cash election or no election was
made will be exchanged for cash;
(2) with respect to those shares to which stock elections were made, cash
will be prorated, by multiplying the number of shares each CNG
shareholder has elected to exchange for stock by a fraction, the
numerator of which is the CNG Cash Number, less the number of shares
exchanged for cash in (1) above and the denominator of which is the
aggregate number of shares of CNG common stock for which a stock
election is made.
(3) all shares for which stock was elected which are not exchanged for cash
pursuant to (2) above shall be converted into the right to receive
Dominion Resources common stock, plus the Top-Up Amount (if
applicable), except that cash, without interest, will be paid in place
of fractional shares of Dominion Resources common stock.
If the aggregate number of shares of Dominion Resources common stock or CNG
common stock for which cash was elected does not exceed the Dominion Resources
Cash Number or CNG Cash Number, and the number of shares of Dominion Resources
common stock for which stock consideration was elected does not exceed the
Dominion Resources Stock Number or CNG Stock Number, then:
(1) all shares for which a cash election was made will be exchanged for
cash;
(2) all shares for which a stock election was made will be exchanged for
Dominion Resources common stock plus the Top-Up Amount (if applicable);
(3) all Dominion Resources common stock for which no election was made will
receive cash or Dominion Resources common stock, as determined by
Dominion Resources;
(4) all CNG common shares for which no election was made will receive cash
or Dominion Resources common stock, as determined by Dominion Resources
and
(5) cash, without interest, will be paid in lieu of fractional shares of
Dominion Resources common stock.
As a result of the limitations described above, the amount of cash and stock
received by shareholders may differ from their actual elections. If Dominion
Resources common stock is over-subscribed by the shareholders of either
company, a shareholder of that company who elected Dominion Resources common
stock may receive part of his consideration in the form of cash. If cash is
over-subscribed by the shareholders of either company, a shareholder of that
company who elected cash may receive part of his consideration in the form of
Dominion Resources common stock.
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Tax Reallocation
If, after allocating the cash and stock consideration pursuant to the
proration formulas set forth above, the tax advisors are unable to render their
opinions that the Second Merger will be treated as a reorganization within the
meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code (see THE MERGERS--
Material U. S. Federal Income Tax Consequences on page 50 for a discussion of
the tax consequences of the qualification of the Second Merger as a
"reorganization"), then Dominion Resources is obligated to reduce, to the
minimum extent necessary to enable the tax opinions to be rendered, the amount
of cash to be delivered with respect to the shares of CNG that would otherwise
receive cash consideration or with respect to the Top-Up Amount, as the case
may be, and in lieu thereof shall deliver the number of shares of Dominion
Resources common stock having an aggregate value, based on the Average Price,
equal to the amount of such reduction.
Exchange of Stock Certificates
Exchange Agent
Dominion Resources shall deposit with an exchange agent certificates
evidencing the shares of Dominion Resources common stock issuable and cash
payable in exchange for outstanding Dominion Resources and CNG common stock.
Exchange Procedures
At least 30 and no more than 90 days before the anticipated day of the
closing of the mergers, the exchange agent will mail a form of election to each
shareholder of record (as of a record date to be determined by Dominion
Resources and CNG) of Dominion Resources and CNG common stock. The exchange
agent will use its best efforts to make a form of election available to all
persons who become shareholders of Dominion Resources or CNG during the period
between such record date and the Effective Time. To be effective, a form of
election must be:
. properly completed and signed by the shareholder of record; and
. delivered to the exchange agent by no later than 5:00 p.m. on the fifth
business day immediately preceding the Effective Time.
Holders may revoke their elections by filing a written revocation with the
exchange agent before the deadline for submitting elections. All elections will
be automatically revoked if the exchange agent receives written notice from
Dominion Resources and CNG that either merger has been abandoned. Dominion
Resources, and, at Dominion Resources' option, the exchange agent, will have
the discretion to determine whether forms of election have been properly
completed, signed and submitted or revoked, and to disregard immaterial defects
in the forms of election.
Promptly after the Effective Time of the First Merger or the Second Merger,
as applicable, the exchange agent will mail the following materials to each
shareholder of record of Dominion Resources or CNG shares as of the Effective
Time of the respective merger who did not return a properly completed form of
election:
. a letter of transmittal for use in submitting such shares to the
exchange agent for exchange; and
. instructions explaining what the shareholder must do to effect the
surrender of Dominion Resources or CNG certificates in exchange for
consideration to be issued in the mergers.
Shareholders should complete and sign the letter of transmittal and return it
to the exchange agent together with his or her certificates in accordance with
the instructions.
Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates
If certificates for any Dominion Resources or CNG common stock have been
lost, stolen or destroyed, the shareholder must submit an affidavit to that
effect to the exchange agent. Dominion Resources or the surviving
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corporation in the Second Merger may also require the shareholder to deliver a
bond to the exchange agent in an amount reasonably required to indemnify the
exchange agent against claims with respect to lost certificates.
Transfer of Ownership
The exchange agent will issue a certificate for shares of Dominion Resources
common stock in a name other than that in which the Dominion Resources or CNG
certificate surrendered in exchange therefor was registered only if the
certificate surrendered is properly endorsed and otherwise in proper form for
transfer. The person requesting the exchange must also have paid any required
transfer or other taxes or established to the satisfaction of Dominion
Resources and CNG that no tax is payable.
Payments Following Surrender
Until they have surrendered their certificates, holders of certificates
entitled to receive Dominion Resources common stock will not receive:
. dividends and other distributions with respect to Dominion Resources
common stock that they are entitled to receive from the mergers and that
are declared or made with a record date after the Effective Time; or
. cash, without interest, payment in place of fractional shares of
Dominion Resources common stock.
At the time of surrender, shareholders will receive any cash due to them,
including cash in lieu of fractional shares, dividends or other distributions
paid with respect to whole Dominion Resources shares, if such distributions had
a record date after the Effective Time. Such shareholders will also be paid on
the appropriate payment date the amount of dividends or other distributions
with a record date after the Effective Time, but prior to surrender, and a
payment date subsequent to surrender.
Shareholders should not forward their certificates to the Exchange Agent,
Dominion Resources or CNG until they have received a form of election.
Shareholders should not return certificates with the enclosed proxy. A form of
election and complete instructions for properly making an election to receive
cash, Dominion Resources common stock or a combination of cash and stock will
be mailed to shareholders under separate cover not more than 90 days nor less
than 30 days before the anticipated date of the closing of the mergers.
Representations and Warranties
The merger agreement contains the following representations and warranties of
Dominion Resources and CNG:
. their respective due organization and qualification, the due organization
and qualification of their respective significant subsidiaries and
similar corporate matters;
. their respective capital structures;
. the authorization, execution, delivery, performance and enforceability of
the merger agreement and related matters;
. regulatory and statutory approvals;
. compliance with applicable laws and agreements;
. reports and financial statements have been filed with governmental
authorities, complied in all material respects with all applicable
requirements, and do not contain a material misrepresentation or
omission;
. the absence of material adverse changes;
. the information supplied by each of Dominion Resources and CNG for use in
this joint proxy statement/prospectus does not contain a material
misrepresentation or omission;
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. certain employee matters;
. the utility regulatory status of Dominion Resources and CNG and their
respective subsidiaries;
. the Dominion Resources and CNG shareholder vote required to approve the
merger agreement;
. the receipt by Dominion Resources and CNG of opinions as to the fairness
of the merger consideration, from a financial point of view, of their
respective financial advisors;
. the ownership of each other's shares;
. the non-applicability of certain statutory and company-specific anti-
takeover provisions;
. certain environmental matters;
. trading position risk management; and
. the absence of litigation which would have a material adverse effect on
either Dominion Resources or CNG.
In addition, the merger agreement contains certain representations and
warranties by Dominion Resources as to the nuclear operations of Dominion
Resources and its subsidiaries, the ownership of New Sub I and New Sub II and
as to the Dominion Resources Board of Directors present intent to maintain the
payment of dividends on the Dominion Resources common stock at its current rate
and by CNG as to the non-applicability of certain provisions of its rights
agreement to the merger and the rejection of the Columbia proposal.
Conduct of Business Pending the Mergers
The companies have agreed to carry on their respective businesses in the
ordinary course until the mergers are effective or terminated and to use all
commercially reasonable efforts to preserve their current business
organizations, goodwill and customer and supplier relationships. In addition,
each company has agreed without prior written consent to:
. not declare or pay any dividends or make any distributions, other than as
provided in the merger agreement;
. not change the capital structure of the company;
. not redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire its own stock, other than as
provided in the merger agreement;
. not issue or sell any stock or securities convertible into stock, other
than as provided in the merger agreement;
. not amend their respective articles of incorporation, charter or by-laws
other than as provided in the merger agreement;
. not merge with, acquire a substantial equity interest in or acquire
substantial assets of any other business entity, other than as provided
in the merger agreement;
. not sell, transfer, license or otherwise dispose of any assets that are
material to the company as a whole, other than as provided in the merger
agreement;
. not incur or guarantee any indebtedness other than as provided in the
merger agreement;
. not make any capital expenditures, other than as provided in the merger
agreement;
. not engage in any activities that would change the status of the company
or its subsidiaries under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935;
. not make any changes to accounting methods, except as required by law,
rule, regulation or GAAP;
. not take any action that would, or would be reasonably likely to, affect
the Second Merger's status under Section 368(a)(1)(A) of the Internal
Revenue Code;
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The Merger Agreement
. not pay, discharge or satisfy any material claims, liabilities or
obligations, other than in the ordinary course or as provided in the
merger agreement;
. confer frequently with each other's representatives and promptly notify
each other of any significant changes in operations;
. consult with each other regarding regulated rates, charges or regulatory
filings and not make any filing to change rates that would have a
material adverse effect on the benefits associated with the mergers;
. use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain required third-company
consents and to notify the other company of any failures to obtain such
consents;
. not take any action that would or is reasonably likely to result in a
material breach of the merger agreement or make any of the
representations and warranties untrue as of the Closing Date;
. not take any action that would likely jeopardize the qualification of
outstanding revenue bonds for the benefit of Dominion Resources or CNG
that qualify as exempt facility bonds or as tax-exempt industrial
development bonds under Section 103(b)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1954, as amended prior to the Tax Reform Act of 1986;
. create a transition task force, headed by Thos. E. Capps, and two
additional members of Dominion Resources and two additional members from
CNG;
. maintain insurance in such amounts and against such risks and losses as
are customary in their respective industries; and
. use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain existing permits.
CNG has also agreed that, without the prior written consent of Dominion
Resources, it shall not, nor shall it permit any of its subsidiaries to:
. enter into, adopt or amend (except as may be required by applicable law)
or increase the amount or accelerate the payment or vesting of any
benefit or amount payable under any employee benefit plan or other
contract, agreement, commitment, arrangement, plan or policy maintained
by, contributed to or entered into by such company or any of its
subsidiaries, or increase, or enter into any of the foregoing to increase
in any manner, the compensation or fringe benefits, or otherwise to
extend, expand or enhance the engagement, employment or any related
rights, of any director, officer or other employee of CNG or its
subsidiaries, except as otherwise expressly contemplated by the merger
agreement; or
. enter into or amend any employment, severance or special pay arrangements
with respect to termination of employment or other similar contract,
agreement or arrangement with any director or officer other than in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.
No Solicitation of Transactions
The companies agreed that neither they, their subsidiaries nor any directors,
officers, employees, agents or other representatives, directly or indirectly,
would:
. initiate, solicit or encourage, or take any action to facilitate the
making of any offer or proposal that constitutes or is reasonably likely
to lead to any tender or exchange offer, proposal for a merger,
consolidation or other business combination involving Dominion Resources
or CNG (or any of their material subsidiaries), or any proposal or offer
to acquire in any manner a substantial equity interest in, or a
substantial portion of the assets of, Dominion Resources or CNG (or any
of their material subsidiaries), other than pursuant to transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement; or
. engage in negotiations or provide any confidential information or data to
any person relating to any such business combination.
Each company will notify the other orally and in writing of any such
inquiries, offers or proposals including, without limitation, the terms and
conditions of any such proposal and the identity of the person
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The Merger Agreement
making, it within 24 hours of the receipt thereof and will give the other five
days advance notice of any agreement to be entered into with or any information
to be supplied to any person making such inquiry, offer or proposal.
The merger agreement requires each company immediately to cease and cause to
be terminated all existing discussions and negotiations, if any, with any other
persons conducted prior to the date of the merger agreement with respect to any
such business combination.
However, unless the shareholders of each of Dominion Resources and CNG have
voted to approve the mergers, either company may participate in discussions or
negotiations with, furnish information to, and afford access to the properties,
books and records of the company and its subsidiaries to any person in
connection with an unsolicited offer to effect a business combination as
described above, if and to the extent that:
. the Board of Directors of the company has reasonably concluded in good
faith (after consultation with its financial advisors) that the person or
group making the unsolicited offer will have adequate sources of
financing to consummate the transaction and that the unsolicited offer is
more favorable to such company's shareholders than the mergers;
. the Board of Directors of such company is advised in a written, reasoned
opinion of outside counsel that a failure to do so would result in a
breach of its fiduciary duties under applicable law; and
. such company has entered into a confidentiality agreement with the person
or group making the unsolicited offer containing terms and conditions no
less favorable to such company than the existing confidentiality
agreement between Dominion Resources and CNG.
Conditions to the Mergers
Consummation of the mergers is subject to a number of conditions, including:
. the approval of the mergers by the shareholders of Dominion Resources and
CNG;
. no temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or
other order by any federal or state court shall be in effect that
prevents the consummation of the mergers, and the mergers and the other
transactions contemplated thereby shall not have been prohibited under
any applicable federal or state law or regulation;
. the registration statement filed with this joint proxy
statement/prospectus shall have become effective and no stop order
suspending such effectiveness shall be in effect;
. the shares of Dominion Resources common stock issuable in the mergers
shall have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange,
subject to official notice of issuance;
. all authorizations, consents, findings by or approvals of any
governmental authority necessary for the execution and delivery of the
merger agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
thereby shall have been obtained at or prior to the Effective Time and
shall have become final orders and shall not impose terms or conditions
that would have, or would be reasonably likely to have, a material
adverse effect on the business, operations, properties, assets, condition
(financial or otherwise), prospects or results of operations of Dominion
Resources and CNG and their subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as if
the Second Merger had been consummated (but without giving effect to the
impact of such material adverse effect).
In addition, each company's obligation to effect the mergers is subject to a
number of additional conditions, including the following:
CNG
. the agreements and covenants required to be performed by Dominion
Resources under the merger agreement shall have been performed in all
material respects;
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. the representations and warranties of Dominion Resources shall be true
and correct as of closing as if made on and as of closing except as
expressly provided in the merger agreement;
. CNG shall have received an officers' certificate from Dominion Resources
stating that certain conditions set forth in the merger agreement have
been satisfied;
. no material adverse affect shall have occurred with respect to the
business, operations, properties, assets or condition (financial or
otherwise), prospects or results of operations of Dominion Resources and
its subsidiaries taken as a whole or the consummation of the merger
agreement;
. CNG shall have received an opinion of counsel in form and substance
satisfactory to CNG to the effect that the Second Merger will be treated
as a transaction described in Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code
and that no gain or loss will be recognized by the shareholders of CNG
who exchange CNG common stock solely for Dominion Resources common stock
pursuant to the Second Merger (except with respect to cash received in
lieu of fractional shares); and
. the third party consents required by the merger agreement to be obtained
with respect to Dominion Resources shall have been obtained.
Dominion Resources
. the agreements and covenants required to be performed by CNG under the
merger agreement shall have been performed in all material respects;
. the representations and warranties of CNG shall be true and correct as of
closing as if made on and as of closing except as expressly provided in
the merger agreement;
. Dominion Resources shall have received an officers' certificate from CNG
stating that certain conditions set forth in the merger agreement have
been satisfied;
. no material adverse affect shall have occurred with respect to the
business, operations, properties, assets or condition (financial or
otherwise), prospects or results of operations of CNG and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole or the consummation of the merger
agreement;
. Dominion Resources shall have received an opinion of counsel in form and
substance satisfactory to Dominion Resources to the effect that the
Second Merger will be treated as a transaction described in
Section 368(a)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code; and
. the third party consents required by the merger agreement to be obtained
with respect to CNG shall have been obtained.
Benefit Plans
Following the Effective Time, Dominion Resources and its subsidiaries will
honor, without modification, all contracts, agreements, collective bargaining
agreements and commitments of CNG that apply to any current or former employees
or current or former directors of CNG. This undertaking is not intended to
prevent Dominion Resources from enforcing such contracts, agreements and
commitments in accordance with their terms or from exercising any right to
amend, modify, suspend, revoke or terminate any such contract, agreement,
collective bargaining agreement or commitment. Before undertaking any
reductions in workforce following the Effective Time, Dominion Resources will
consider whether such reductions have a disproportionate effect on employees of
CNG and its subsidiaries in light of the circumstances and the objectives to be
achieved and the needs of the combined businesses of Dominion Resources and
CNG.
In addition, subject to applicable law and obligations under applicable
collective bargaining agreements, Dominion Resources shall maintain for a
period of at least two years after the closing, such employee compensation,
welfare and benefit plans, programs, policies and fringe benefits as will, in
the aggregate, provide benefits to the employees or former employees of CNG and
its subsidiaries who were employees immediately prior to the closing that are
no less favorable than those provided pursuant to such CNG plans, as in effect
at closing.
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Treatment of CNG Stock Options and Stock Awards
With respect to certain CNG stock and incentive plans and other employee
benefit plans, programs and arrangements under which the delivery of CNG common
stock is required for payment, Dominion Resources and CNG shall:
. use their respective best efforts so that, at the Effective Time of the
Second Merger, all benefits, grants, awards and options are converted to
the right to receive from Dominion Resources cash equal to the fair value
at the Effective Time of each such benefit, grant, award or option; and
. fair value shall be determined in good faith by Dominion Resources and
CNG using recognized option valuation methodologies.
Termination
The merger agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the closing,
whether before or after approval by the shareholders of Dominion Resources and
CNG:
. by mutual written consent of the Boards of Directors of Dominion
Resources and CNG;
. by either Dominion Resources or CNG, by written notice to the other, if
the Effective Time shall not have occurred on or before January 31, 2000
(or July 31, 2000 if all regulatory approvals have not yet been received
and all other conditions are then capable of being satisfied), provided
that this right to terminate the merger agreement shall not be available
to any party whose failure to fulfill any obligation under the merger
agreement has been the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the
Effective Time to occur on or before the termination date;
. by either Dominion Resources or CNG, by written notice to the other, if
any required shareholder approval shall not have been obtained at a duly
held meeting of shareholders or at any adjournment thereof;
. by either Dominion Resources or CNG, if any state or federal law, order,
rule or regulation is adopted or issued, that has the effect, as
supported by the written, reasoned opinion of outside counsel for such
company, of prohibiting the mergers or causing a material adverse effect
on the business, operations, properties, assets or condition (financial
or otherwise), prospects or results of operations of either company and
its subsidiaries taken as a whole or the consummation of the merger
agreement, or if any court of competent jurisdiction in the United States
or any state shall have issued an order, judgment or decree permanently
restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the mergers or causing a
material adverse effect on the business, operations, properties, assets
or condition (financial or otherwise), prospects or results of operations
of either company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or the
consummation of the merger agreement, and such order, judgment or decree
shall have become final and nonappealable;
. by Dominion Resources or CNG, by written notice to the other, if there
shall have been any material breach of any representation or warranty, or
any material breach of any covenant or agreement of the other company
under the merger agreement, and such breach shall not have been remedied
within twenty days after receipt by the other company of notice in
writing from the nonterminating company specifying the nature of such
breach and requesting that it be remedied; or
. if the Board of Directors of the nonterminating company or any committee
of such company (1) shall withdraw or modify in any manner adverse to the
terminating company its approval or recommendation of the merger
agreement, the Second Merger, in the case of CNG, or both mergers, in the
case of Dominion Resources, (2) shall fail to reaffirm such approval or
recommendation upon the request of the terminating company, (3) shall
approve or recommend any acquisition of the nonterminating company or a
material portion of such nonterminating company's assets or any tender
offer for shares of capital stock of such nonterminating company, in each
case, by a party other than the terminating company or any of its
affiliates, or (4) shall resolve to take any of the actions specified
above.
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In addition, either Dominion Resources or CNG, upon two days prior notice to
the other, may terminate the merger agreement if as a result of a tender offer
by a party other than Dominion Resources or CNG or any of their respective
affiliates or any written offer or proposal with respect to a merger, sale of a
material portion of the terminating company's assets or other business
combination for the terminating company, in each case, by a party other than
Dominion Resources or CNG or their respective affiliates, the Board of
Directors of the terminating company, determines in good faith that its
fiduciary obligations under applicable law require that such tender offer or
other written offer or proposal be accepted; provided, however, that:
. the Board of Directors of the terminating company has reasonably
concluded in good faith (after consultation with its financial advisors)
that the person or group proposing the business combination will have
adequate sources of financing to consummate the business combination and
that the business combination is more favorable to the terminating
company's shareholders than the Second Merger, in the case of CNG, or
both mergers, in the case of Dominion Resources, and shall have been
advised in a written, reasoned opinion by outside counsel that,
notwithstanding the binding commitment of the merger agreement, and
notwithstanding all concessions that may be offered by the nonterminating
company in the negotiations described below, the directors' fiduciary
duties would require the directors to reconsider such commitment as a
result of such tender offer or such written offer or proposal; and
. prior to any such termination, the terminating company shall, and shall
have caused its respective financial and legal advisors to, negotiate
with the nonterminating company to make such adjustments in the terms and
conditions of the merger agreement as would enable the terminating
company to proceed with the mergers.
In the event of termination of the merger agreement by either Dominion
Resources or CNG as provided above, there shall be no liability on the part of
either Dominion Resources or CNG or their respective officers or directors
under the merger agreement, other than:
. the liabilities arising from certain specified provisions of the merger
agreement described below under Termination Fees and Expenses; and
. to hold in strict confidence all documents furnished in connection with
the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement and in accordance
with the existing confidentiality agreement between Dominion Resources
and CNG.
Termination Fees
If the merger agreement is terminated as a result of a material breach of any
representation, warranty or covenant under the merger agreement, then the
company receiving the notice of termination shall promptly (but not later than
five business days after receipt of such notice) pay to the terminating company
an amount equal to all documented out-of-pocket expenses and fees incurred by
the terminating company in connection with the merger agreement up to $25
million.
However, if the merger agreement is terminated by a company as a result of a
willful breach or failure to perform or comply with the agreements and
covenants by the nonterminating company, such nonterminating company shall in
addition to the other expenses described above, be liable to the terminating
company for such terminating company's actual damages as a result of such
breach.
If the merger agreement is terminated by either company as a result of the
good faith determination that the fiduciary obligations of the directors of the
terminating company under applicable law requires acceptance of a tender offer
or other written offer or proposal and it enters into an agreement (whether or
not such agreement is embodied in a definitive manner) to consummate a business
combination with a third party within two years of such termination, then the
terminating company shall promptly (but not later than five business days after
receipt of notice), but prior to entering into such agreement with the third
party, pay to the other company an amount equal to out-of-pocket expenses up to
$25 million plus $200 million.
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The Merger Agreement
If the merger agreement is terminated by Dominion Resources or CNG:
. as a result of the board of directors of the other company:
--withdrawing or modifying in any manner adverse to the party
terminating its approval or recommendation of the merger agreement or
the Second Merger, in the case of CNG, or both mergers, in the case of
Dominion Resources;
--failing to reaffirm such approval or recommendation upon the other
party's request;
--approving or recommending any acquisition of its company or a material
portion of its assets or any tender offer for its capital stock by a
party other than the other party to the merger agreement; or
--resolving to take any of the above actions; or
. as a result of the Effective Time not occurring on or before January 31,
2000 (or July 31, 2000, if all regulatory approvals have not yet been
received and all other conditions are then capable of being satisfied),
following the failure of the shareholders of either Dominion Resources or
CNG to grant the necessary approvals or as a result of a material breach
of certain agreements in connection with obtaining such shareholder
approvals and, at the time of termination, there shall have been a third-
party tender offer for shares or a third-party offer or proposal with
respect to a business combination involving either Dominion Resources or
CNG which, at the time of such termination, shall not have been rejected
by such target company and its Board of Directors and withdrawn by the
third party then promptly (but not later than five business days after
receipt of notice of the amount due from the other party) after the
termination of the merger agreement;
the party terminating the merger agreement shall be paid by the other party:
out-of-pocket expenses up to $25 million; and a termination fee of $200
million, provided that no such amounts shall be payable if and to the extent
the party to make such payment shall have paid such amounts pursuant to the
paragraphs above.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the $200 million termination fee plus the out-
of-pocket expenses described above, shall not be payable upon termination due
to disapproval of the First or Second Merger by the Dominion Resources or CNG
shareholders, as the case may be, unless the Board of Directors of the company
whose shareholders disapproved the respective merger:
. withdraws, amends or otherwise adversely modifies in any manner adverse
to the other company its approval or recommendation;
. fails to reaffirm its approval or recommendation;
. approves or recommends the acquisition of such company or a material
portion of the assets or shares of such company; or
. resolves to take any of the steps described above.
The $200 million termination fee and the out-of-pocket expenses shall be
payable by Dominion Resources or CNG, as the case may be, even if the actions
described in the above paragraph are not taken by the respective Board of
Directors, if the respective company enters into an agreement, whether or not
such agreement is embodied in a definitive manner, with a third party to effect
a business combination (as defined for this purpose in the merger agreement)
within two years of such termination.
Expenses
The expenses incurred in connection with printing and filing of the joint
proxy statement/prospectus will be shared equally by Dominion Resources and
CNG. All other costs and expenses incurred in connection with the merger
agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby will be paid by the company
incurring such expenses.
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____________________________________________________ The Merger Agreement
Amendment and Waiver
The merger agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors of Dominion
Resources and CNG at any time before or after the shareholders of Dominion
Resources and CNG approve the mergers. However, no such amendment after
shareholder approval shall alter or change:
. the amount or kind of shares, rights or any of the proceedings of the
exchange and/or conversion with respect to the shares of Dominion
Resources stock to be issued under the merger agreement; or
. any of the terms and conditions of the merger agreement that would
materially and adversely affect the rights of holders of CNG common
stock, except for alterations or changes that could otherwise be adopted
by the Board of Directors of Dominion Resources and/or CNG, without the
further approval of such shareholders.
At any time prior to the Effective Time, the parties to the merger agreement
may extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts
of the other parties under the merger agreement, waive any inaccuracies in the
representations and warranties contained therein or in any document delivered
pursuant thereto and waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions
contained in the merger agreement.
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Regulatory Matters ______________________________________________________
REGULATORY MATTERS
A summary of the material regulatory requirements affecting the mergers is
set forth below. Additional consents from or notifications to governmental
agencies may be necessary or appropriate in connection with the mergers.
While the companies believe that they will receive the requisite regulatory
approvals and clearances for the merger that are summarized below, there can be
no assurance as to the timing of such approvals or clearances or the ability of
the companies to obtain such approvals and clearances on satisfactory terms or
otherwise. Consummation of the mergers is conditioned upon receipt of final
orders from the various federal and state commissions described below that do
not impose terms or conditions that would have, or would be reasonably likely
to have, a material adverse effect on the combined company. There can be no
assurance that any such approvals will be obtained or, if obtained, will not
contain terms, conditions or qualifications that cause such approvals to fail
to satisfy such condition to the consummation of the mergers or that such
orders will not be appealed by intervenors to the appropriate courts.
Antitrust Considerations
Under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (HSR Act),
Dominion Resources and CNG cannot consummate the Second Merger until each has
submitted certain information to the Antitrust Division of the Department of
Justice and the Federal Trade Commission. Additionally, each company must
satisfy specified HSR Act waiting period requirements. The expiration or
earlier termination of the HSR Act waiting period will not prevent the
Department of Justice or the Federal Trade Commission from challenging the
Second Merger on antitrust grounds. Neither Dominion Resources nor CNG believes
that the Second Merger will violate federal antitrust laws. If the Second
Merger is not consummated within 12 months after the expiration or earlier
termination of the HSR Act waiting period, Dominion Resources and CNG must
submit new information to the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade
Commission, and a new HSR Act waiting period will begin.
1935 Act
Dominion Resources is a holding company exempt from most provisions of the
Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (1935 Act). CNG is a registered
holding company subject to the provisions of the 1935 Act.
In connection with the Second Merger, Dominion Resources is required to
obtain Securities and Exchange Commission approval under the 1935 Act to
acquire the four public utilities owned by CNG. Dominion Resources and CNG
filed an application with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 5,
1999 seeking the necessary approval under the 1935 Act. This application will
be amended to reflect the revised terms of the merger agreement agreed to on
May 11, 1999.
If as a result of the Second Merger, CNG merges into New Sub II, New Sub II
will become a registered public utility holding company. In any event, Dominion
Resources will become a registered public utility holding company under the
1935 Act because of its indirect acquisition of the CNG public utility
companies. Although CNG and Dominion Resources believe that Securities and
Exchange Commission approval of the Second Merger under the 1935 Act on terms
acceptable to both parties will be obtained, it is not possible to predict with
certainty the timing of such approval and whether the approval will be on terms
acceptable to them.
Under the standards applicable to transactions subject to approval pursuant
to Sections 9(a) and 10 of the 1935 Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission
is directed to approve the Second Merger unless it finds that (i) the Second
Merger would tend towards detrimental interlocking relations or a detrimental
concentration of control, (ii) the consideration to be paid in connection with
the Second Merger is not reasonable, or (iii) the Second Merger would unduly
complicate the capital structure of the holding company system or would be
detrimental to the proper functioning of the applicant's holding company
system. To approve the proposed
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_______________________________________________________ Regulatory Matters
Second Merger, the Securities and Exchange Commission also must find that the
Second Merger would comply with applicable state law, tend towards the
development of an integrated public utility system and would otherwise conform
to the 1935 Act's integration and corporate simplification standards.
The 1935 Act imposes a number of restrictions on the operations of
registered holding company systems. Among these restrictions are requirements
that certain securities acquisitions and issuances, sales and acquisitions of
assets or securities of utility companies or acquisitions of interests in any
other business must be approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The
1935 Act also limits the ability of registered holding companies to engage in
activities unrelated to their utility operations and regulates holding company
system service companies and the rendering of services by holding company
affiliates to other companies in their system. Dominion Resources and CNG
believe they will be able to satisfy the Securities and Exchange Commission's
requirements for a registered holding company system.
The Securities and Exchange Commission may require as a condition to its
approval of the Second Merger under the 1935 Act that Dominion Resources divest
certain of its activities which are unrelated to the utility or energy
operations of the combined companies after the Second Merger within a
reasonable time after the Second Merger. In several cases, the Securities and
Exchange Commission has allowed the retention of non-utility related activities
or deferred the question of divestiture for a substantial period of time. In
those cases in which divestiture has taken place, the Securities and Exchange
Commission has usually allowed enough time to complete the divestiture to allow
the applicant to avoid an untimely or premature sale of the divested assets.
Dominion Resources believes strong policy reasons and prior Securities and
Exchange Commission decisions and policy statements support the retention of
its non-utility related investments or, alternatively, support deferring the
question of divestiture for a substantial period of time. Accordingly, Dominion
Resources requested in the 1935 Act application that it be allowed to retain
its non-utility related investments or, in the alternative, that the question
of divestiture be deferred. However, Dominion Resources will amend its
application to reflect its intended divestiture of Dominion Capital.
Atomic Energy Act
Dominion Resources holds various licenses issued by the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) to own and operate the North Anna and Surry nuclear generating
stations. Under the Atomic Energy Act and NRC regulations, nuclear licensees
must seek and obtain prior NRC consent for any changes that would constitute a
transfer of an NRC license, directly or indirectly, through transfer of control
of the license to any person. Dominion Resources does not believe that the
mergers will constitute a transfer of control of its NRC licenses or that the
mergers will affect the basis for prior NRC decisions relating to its financial
qualifications as an NRC licensee. Dominion Resources will request confirmation
that the NRC concurs with its belief.
Federal Power Act
Section 203 of the Federal Power Act provides that no public utility may sell
or otherwise dispose of its jurisdictional facilities, directly or indirectly
merge or consolidate its facilities with those of any other person, or acquire
any security of any other public utility, without first having obtained
authorization from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Because CNG
has subsidiary power marketers that are considered to be "public utilities" and
to own "jurisdictional facilities" under the Federal Power Act, FERC's approval
under Section 203 is required before Dominion Resources and CNG may consummate
the mergers. Section 203 provides that FERC is required to grant its approval
if the Second Merger is found to be "consistent with the public interest."
FERC has stated in its 1996 Utility Merger Policy Statement that, in
analyzing a merger under Section 203, it will evaluate the following criteria:
. the effect of the merger on competition in wholesale electric power
markets, utilizing an initial screening approach derived from the
Department of Justice/Federal Trade Commission-Initial Merger Guidelines
to determine if a merger will result in an increase in an applicant's
market power;
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Regulatory Matters ______________________________________________________
. the effect of the merger on the applicants' FERC jurisdictional
ratepayers; and
. the effect of the merger on state and federal regulation of the
applicants.
Dominion Resources' power marketing affiliates are authorized by FERC to sell
electric power at wholesale in interstate commerce at market-based rates. CNG's
power marketing affiliates have similar authorizations from FERC. These
authorizations, which were obtained under Section 205 of the Federal Power Act,
were predicated in part on FERC's finding that the power marketing affiliates
of Dominion Resources and CNG lack market power over the generation and
transfer of electric energy and, therefore, could not sell electric power at
prices above competitive levels. As a condition of the power marketer
authorizations, the power marketing affiliates of Dominion Resources and CNG
are required to report any changes in status that could result in a change in
the facts FERC relied upon in approving market-based rates. Pursuant to this
requirement, the power marketing affiliates of Dominion Resources and CNG will
file notifications of a "change in status" with FERC. These notifications will
inform FERC of the merger agreement and will advise FERC that the power
marketing affiliates of both Dominion Resources and CNG would not deal with one
another except under specified certain circumstances during the pendency of the
Second Merger.
Pending FERC approval of the Second Merger under Section 203 and related
action under Section 205, the authorizations under which the power-marketing
affiliates of both Dominion Resources and CNG engage in market-based sales are
expected to remain effective. The necessary filings will be made with FERC to
allow Dominion Resources and CNG power-marketing affiliates to continue to
engage in wholesale power transactions at market-based rates.
Virginia Commission
Dominion Resources' wholly-owned subsidiary, Virginia Power, and CNG's
wholly-owned subsidiary, Virginia Natural Gas, Inc., are subject to the
jurisdiction of the Virginia State Corporation Commission (Virginia
Commission). The Virginia Commission must approve the acquisition of any
Virginia public utility. The applicants must show that the provision of
adequate service at just and reasonable rates will not be threatened or
impaired as a result of the Second Merger. Dominion Resources and CNG have
filed an application seeking Virginia Commission approval of the Second Merger
consistent with these requirements.
North Carolina Commission
Virginia Power is subject to the jurisdiction of the North Carolina Utilities
Commission (North Carolina Commission). The North Carolina Commission must
approve any merger or combination affecting any public utility, whether made
through acquisition or control by stock purchase or otherwise. Under this
authority, the North Carolina Commission has advised that it will assert
jurisdiction to approve the Second Merger. The North Carolina Commission must
give its approval if justified by the public convenience and necessity.
Dominion Resources and CNG have filed an application seeking the approval of
the North Carolina Commission consistent with these requirements.
West Virginia Commission
CNG's wholly-owned subsidiary, Hope Gas, Inc., is subject to the jurisdiction
of the West Virginia Public Service Commission (West Virginia Commission). No
person or corporation may acquire either directly or indirectly a majority of
the common stock of any public utility organized and doing business in West
Virginia without the approval of the West Virginia Commission. The West
Virginia Commission may approve such a transaction upon proper showing that the
terms and conditions are reasonable, that neither party to it is given an undue
advantage over the other, and that it does not adversely affect the public in
West Virginia. Dominion Resources and CNG have filed an application seeking the
approval of the West Virginia Commission consistent with these requirements.
Pennsylvania Commission
CNG's wholly-owned subsidiary, The Peoples Natural Gas Company, is subject to
the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (Pennsylvania
Commission). The issuance of a certificate of public convenience and necessity
may be required. The Pennsylvania Commission has advised that it will assert
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_______________________________________________________ Regulatory Matters
jurisdiction to approve the Second Merger. The standard for approval is whether
the transaction is necessary and proper for the service, accommodation,
convenience, or safety of the public. This standard has been applied by the
Pennsylvania Commission to require that the companies demonstrate that the
transaction will affirmatively promote the service, accommodation, convenience
or safety of the public in some substantial way. The Peoples Natural Gas
Company has filed an application seeking the approval of the Pennsylvania
Commission consistent with these requirements.
Ohio Commission
CNG's wholly-owned subsidiary, East Ohio Gas is subject to the jurisdiction
of the Public Utilities Commission of the State of Ohio (Ohio Commission). The
Ohio Commission does not have statutory jurisdiction over the transaction, but
is being provided any relevant information for its review, and use in
evaluating the impact of the Second Merger, if any, on retail customers in
Ohio.
Affiliate Contracts and Arrangements
Following the Second Merger and the registration of Dominion Resources as a
holding company under the 1935 Act, Dominion Resources and CNG and their
subsidiaries may need to enter into or amend agreements related to the
provision by affiliates of the combined companies of various services,
including management, supervisory, construction, engineering, accounting,
legal, financial or similar services. The approval or non-opposition of certain
federal and state regulatory commissions is required with respect to the
creation or amendment of certain inter-affiliate agreements. Dominion
Resources, CNG and their subsidiaries will file such agreements with the
appropriate federal and state regulatory commissions and seek such regulatory
approvals as may be required by applicable law.
Other Regulatory Matters
Dominion Resources and its subsidiaries and CNG and its subsidiaries have
obtained from various regulatory authorities certain franchises, permits and
licenses which may need to be renewed, replaced or transferred in connection
with the mergers, and approvals, consents or notifications may be required in
connection with such renewals, replacements or transfers.
Regulatory commissions of states where Dominion Resources' and CNG's utility
subsidiaries operate may intervene in the federal regulatory proceedings. In
addition, such regulatory commissions regulate the rates charged to utility
customers within their jurisdictions. In approving rates, each state may take
into account other effects of, including possible savings resulting from, the
mergers.
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The Companies ___________________________________________________________
THE COMPANIES
Dominion Resources, Inc.
Dominion Resources, a diversified utility holding company, has its principal
office at 120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, telephone (804) 819-
2000. Its principal subsidiary is Virginia Power, a regulated public utility
engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electric
energy. The primary service area is in Virginia and northeastern North
Carolina. Dominion Resources, other major subsidiaries are Dominion Capital,
its diversified financial services company, and Dominion Energy, its
independent power and natural gas subsidiary. Dominion Resources was
incorporated in 1983 as a Virginia corporation. Dominion Resources and its
subsidiaries had 11,033 full-time employees as of December 31, 1998. Dominion
Resources is currently exempt from registration as a holding company under the
1935 Act. Dominion Resources also owns and operates a 365 Mw natural gas fired
generating facility in the United Kingdom.
Virginia Power
Virginia Power is a public utility engaged in the generation, transmission,
distribution and sale of electric energy within a 30,000 square-mile area in
Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. Virginia Power operates nuclear,
fossil fuel and hydroelectric generating units with an aggregate capability of
13,635 Mw. It supplies energy at retail to approximately two million customers
and sells electricity at wholesale to rural electric cooperatives, power
marketers and certain municipalities. The term "Virginia Power" refers to the
entirety of Virginia Electric and Power Company, including its Virginia and
North Carolina operations and all of its subsidiaries. In Virginia it trades
under the name "Virginia Power." The Virginia service area comprises about 65
percent of Virginia's total land area, but accounts for over 80 percent of its
population. In North Carolina it trades under the name "North Carolina Power"
and serves retail customers located in the northeastern region of the state,
excluding certain municipalities. Virginia Power also engages in off-system
wholesale purchases and sales of electricity and purchases and sales of natural
gas, and is developing trading relationships beyond the geographic limits of
its retail service territory.
Dominion Capital
Dominion Capital is a diversified financial services company with several
operating subsidiaries in the commercial lending, merchant banking and
residential lending business. Its principal subsidiaries are First Source
Financial, LLP, First Dominion Capital LLC and Saxon Mortgage, Inc. Dominion
Capital also owns a 46 percent interest in Cambrian Capital LLP. First Source
Financial provides cash-flow and asset-based financing to middle-market
companies seeking to expand, recapitalize or undertake buyouts. First Dominion
Capital is an integrated merchant banking and asset management business located
in New York. Saxon Mortgage and its affiliates originate and securitize home
equity and mortgage loans to individuals. Cambrian Capital provides financing
to small and mid-sized independent oil and natural gas producers undertaking
acquisitions, refinancings and expansions.
Dominion Energy
Dominion Energy is active in the competitive electric power generation
business and in the development, exploration and operation of natural gas and
oil reserves. Dominion Energy is involved in power projects in five states,
Argentina, Bolivia, Belize and Peru. Domestic power projects include the
Kincaid Power Station, a 1,108 Mw coal fired station in Central Illinois; a
600 Mw gas-fired peaking facility under construction in Central Illinois; two
geothermal projects and one solar project in California; three small
hydroelectric projects in New York; a waste coal-fueled project in West
Virginia and a waste wood- and coal-fueled project in Maine. International
power projects include one hydroelectric and one gas-fired project in
Argentina, two hydroelectric projects in Bolivia, a run-of-river hydroelectric
project in Belize and two hydroelectric projects and six diesel oil-fueled
projects in Peru. Dominion Energy is also involved in natural gas and oil
development, exploration
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____________________________________________________________ The Companies
and production in Canada, the Appalachian Basin, the Michigan Basin, the
Illinois Basin, the Black Warrior Basin, the Uinta Basin, the San Juan Basin
and owns net proved oil and natural gas reserves in key regions of the United
States and Canada.
Dominion Generation
In April 1999, Dominion Resources announced a reorganization of its energy
businesses, effective May 1, 1999, along functional lines with the following
areas of focus:
.power generation/off-systems transactions;
.bulk power delivery and distribution; and
.oil and gas development, exploration and operation.
By 2002, when deregulation of generation is anticipated in the state of
Virginia, Dominion Resources plans to conduct all of its power generation/off-
systems businesses through a new subsidiary (Dominion Generation, Inc.). No
generating assets are expected to be transferred from the Virginia Power
corporate entity nor is it anticipated that these assets will be operated by
any entity other than Virginia Power until deregulation. During this transition
period, both Virginia Power and Dominion Energy may use the name Dominion
Generation to refer to their generation activities.
Consolidated Natural Gas Company
CNG is a Delaware corporation organized on July 21, 1942, and a public
utility holding company registered under the 1935 Act. It is engaged solely in
the business of owning and holding all of the outstanding equity securities of
nineteen directly owned subsidiary companies. CNG and its subsidiaries are
engaged in all phases of the natural gas business--distribution, transmission
and exploration and production. The company's principal subsidiaries are
described below.
Distribution
Public utility subsidiaries of CNG are The East Ohio Gas Company, The Peoples
Natural Gas Company, Virginia Natural Gas, Inc. and Hope Gas, Inc. Principal
cities served at retail are: Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown, Canton, Warren,
Lima, Ashtabula and Marietta in Ohio; Pittsburgh (a portion), Altoona and
Johnstown in Pennsylvania; Norfolk, Newport News, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake,
Hampton and Williamsburg in Virginia; and Clarksburg and Parkersburg in West
Virginia. At December 31, 1998, CNG served at retail approximately two million
residential, commercial and industrial gas sales and transportation customers.
Transmission
CNG Transmission Corporation operates a regional interstate pipeline system
and provides gas transportation and storage services to each of CNG's public
utility subsidiaries and to non-affiliated utilities, end-users and others in
the Midwest, the Mid-Atlantic states and the Northeast. Through its wholly
owned subsidiary, CNG Iroquois, Inc., CNG Transmission holds a 16 percent
general partnership interest in the Iroquois Gas Transmission System, L.P.,
that owns and operates an interstate natural gas pipeline extending from the
Canada-United States border near Iroquois, Ontario, to Long Island, New York.
The Iroquois pipeline transports Canadian gas to utility and power generation
customers in metropolitan New York and New England.
Exploration and Production
CNG Producing Company is CNG's exploration and production subsidiary. Its
activities are conducted primarily in the Gulf of Mexico, the southern and
western United States, the Appalachian region, and in Canada.
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The Companies ___________________________________________________________
Retail Marketing
CNG Retail Services Corporation was created in 1997 to market natural gas,
electricity and related products and services to residential, commercial and
small industrial customers. CNG Products and Services, Inc. also provides
energy-related services to customers of CNG's local distribution subsidiaries
and others.
International Activities
CNG International Corporation was formed by CNG in 1996 to invest in foreign
energy activities. CNG International currently owns interests in natural gas
pipeline companies in Australia, and gas and electric utility companies in
Argentina.
Power Generation Development
On April 14, 1999, Dominion Resources and a subsidiary of CNG signed an
exclusive agreement to develop natural gas-fired power generation facilities
along CNG's natural gas pipeline system. This agreement is not conditioned upon
the proposed merger between Dominion Resources and CNG.
Under terms of the agreement the companies have identified 45 potential
development sites along CNG's natural gas pipeline network in Ohio,
Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia and Virginia. Dominion Resources and CNG
affiliates will develop, own or lease, operate and maintain the facilities on a
50-50 ownership basis.
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__________________________ Description of Dominion Resources Capital Stock
DESCRIPTION OF DOMINION RESOURCES CAPITAL STOCK
General
As of April 30, 1999, the authorized capital stock was 320,000,000 shares.
Those shares consisted of: (a) 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, none of
which were outstanding; and (b) 300,000,000 shares of common stock, of which
191,960,866 shares were outstanding.
Common Stock
Dominion Resources outstanding shares of common stock are listed on the New
York Stock Exchange under the symbol "D". Any additional common stock issued
will also be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Common shareholders may
receive dividends when declared by the Board of Directors. Dividends may be
paid in cash, stock or other form. In certain cases, common shareholders may
not receive dividends until obligations to any preferred shareholders have been
satisfied. All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-
assessable. Any additional common stock issued will also be fully paid and non-
assessable. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote in the election
of directors and other matters. Common shareholders are not entitled to
preemptive or cumulative voting rights. Common shareholders will be notified of
any shareholders' meeting according to applicable law. If Dominion Resources
liquidates, dissolves, or winds-up its business, either voluntarily or not,
common shareholders will share equally in the assets remaining after creditors
and preferred shareholders are paid.
Preferred Stock
The following description of the terms of the preferred stock sets forth
certain general terms and provisions of Dominion Resources authorized preferred
stock. If preferred stock is offered, the specific designations and rights will
be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Board of Directors can, without approval of shareholders, issue one or
more series of preferred stock. The Board can also determine the number of
shares of each series and the rights, preferences and limitations of each
series including the dividend rights, voting rights, conversion rights,
redemption rights and any liquidation preferences of any wholly unissued series
of preferred stock, the number of shares constituting each series and the terms
and conditions of issue. In some cases, the issuance of preferred stock could
delay a change in control of the company and make it harder to remove present
management. Under certain circumstances, preferred stock could also restrict
dividend payments to holders of common stock.
The preferred stock will, if issued, be fully paid and non-assessable.
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Comparative Rights of Shareholders ______________________________________
COMPARATIVE RIGHTS OF SHAREHOLDERS
Upon consummation of the mergers, the company in which the present Dominion
Resources shareholders and CNG shareholders will own stock will be governed by
Virginia law and by the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of Dominion
Resources. Significant provisions of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
of Dominion Resources and certain differences between these documents and the
present charter documents of CNG are discussed below. Although it is
impracticable to compare all of the aspects in which Virginia law and Delaware
law differ, the following is a summary of certain significant differences
between the provisions of these laws.
The following discussion is a summary only. It is not intended to be a
complete statement of the differences affecting the rights of shareholders. The
discussion is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the
relevant documents and applicable state statutes. Dominion Resources and CNG
have filed their charter documents as exhibits to the reports they file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. For information on obtaining those
documents, see WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION.
Board of Directors
Members of the Dominion Resources Board of Directors serve one-year terms and
are elected annually.
Delaware law provides that a corporation's board of directors may be divided
into various classes with staggered terms of office. The CNG Certificate of
Incorporation provides for three classes of directors, as nearly equal in size
as practicable.
Payment of Dividends
After the mergers, dividends paid by Dominion Resources on its capital stock
will be governed by Virginia law. Under Virginia law, dividends may be declared
and paid as determined by the board of directors, provided that no dividends
may be paid if, after giving effect to the distribution (i) the company would
not be able to pay its debts as they become due in the usual course of
business, or (ii) the company's total assets would be less than the sum of its
total liabilities plus any amount required to be paid to holders of preferred
stock in the event of liquidation of the company.
Under Delaware law, dividends are also declared and paid as determined by the
board of directors. However, the ability of CNG to pay dividends on its capital
stock is limited by certain restrictions imposed upon corporations under
Delaware law. Under Delaware law, dividends may be declared and paid out of
surplus, or, in case there is no surplus, out of the corporation's net profits
for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and/or the net profits
from the preceding fiscal year. The distribution of dividends is not permitted
by a Delaware corporation in the event the capital of such corporation has been
diminished by depreciation of property or losses to an amount less than the
aggregate amount of the capital represented by issued and outstanding stock
having a preference upon distribution of assets.
Cumulative Voting
Neither the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of Dominion Resources nor
the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of CNG permit cumulative voting.
Preemptive Rights
None of the shareholders of Dominion Resources or CNG has preemptive rights.
Removal of Directors
The Dominion Resources Articles of Incorporation provide that directors may
be removed by shareholders only for cause and with the affirmative vote of at
least two-thirds of the outstanding shares entitled to vote.
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Under the Bylaws of Dominion Resources and Virginia law, a director may be
removed only at a meeting called for such purpose.
Under Delaware law, directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the
vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of all classes of stock entitled
to vote present at a meeting of shareholders. Unless the certificate of
incorporation otherwise provides, in the case of a corporation with a
classified board, shareholders may effect such removal only for cause. The CNG
certificate of incorporation for a classified board of directors does not
override the Delaware law provision.
Board of Director Vacancies
Under the Articles of Incorporation of Dominion Resources, any vacancies on
the Board of Directors, however caused, and newly created directorships may be
filled by a majority vote of the directors then in office, whether or not a
quorum. Directors appointed in this manner hold office until the next annual
meeting of shareholders.
Delaware law provides that, unless otherwise provided in the certificate of
incorporation or bylaws, vacancies, including those due to removal without
cause, and newly created directorships may be filled by majority vote of the
directors then in office, even if less than a quorum. If, at the time of
filling any vacancy or newly created directorship, the directors then in office
constitute less than a majority of the whole board, the Delaware Court of
Chancery has the authority, upon application of shareholders holding at least
10% of the shares outstanding at the time and entitled to vote, to order an
election to be held to fill any such vacancies or new directorships, or to
replace the directors chosen by the directors then in office.
Shareholder Proposals and Director Nominations
Dominion Resources' shareholders can submit shareholder proposals and
nominate candidates for the Board of Directors if the shareholders follow
advance notice procedures described in the Dominion Resources Bylaws.
To nominate directors, shareholders must submit a written notice to the
corporate secretary at least 60 days before a scheduled meeting. The notice
must include the name and address of the shareholder and of the nominee, a
description of any arrangements between the shareholder and the nominee,
information about the nominee required for proxy statements by the Securities
and Exchange Commission, the written consent of the nominee to serve as a
director and other information.
Shareholder proposals must be submitted to the corporate secretary at least
90 days before the first anniversary of the date of Dominion Resources' last
annual meeting. The notice must include a description of the proposal, the
reasons for presenting the proposal at the annual meeting, the text of any
resolutions to be presented, the shareholder's name and address and number of
shares held, and any material interest of the shareholder in the proposal.
Director nominations and shareholder proposals that are late or that do not
include all required information may be rejected by Dominion Resources. This
could prevent shareholders from bringing certain matters before an annual or
special meeting, including making nominations for directors.
CNG does not have special procedures for submission of shareholder proposals.
CNG shareholders can nominate candidates for the CNG Board of Directors if the
shareholders follow the advance notice procedures described in the CNG Bylaws.
The CNG Bylaws require that shareholder nominations be in writing and be
received by the secretary of CNG not less than thirty and not more than sixty
calendar days before the date of the meeting at which the election is to take
place. Such notice must set forth information about the nominee required for
proxy statements by the Securities and Exchange Commission and other
information. In addition, such notice must be signed by a shareholder duly
qualified to attend and vote at the meeting (other than the person or persons
nominated) and must contain a notice in writing signed by each nominee of his
willingness to
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<PAGE>
Comparative Rights of Shareholders ______________________________________
be elected and to serve as a director. If a nomination by a shareholder is not
made in accordance with the foregoing procedures, the chairman of the meeting
shall have the power to declare such nomination to be null, void and of no
force or effect and to disregard such nomination in conducting the election of
directors at such meeting.
Meetings of Shareholders
Under the Dominion Resources Bylaws, meetings of the shareholders may be
called only by the Chairman of the Board, the President or a majority of the
Board of Directors. This provision could have the effect of delaying until the
next annual shareholders' meeting shareholder actions which are favored by the
holders of a majority of outstanding voting securities, because such person or
entity, even if it acquired a majority of the outstanding voting securities of
Dominion Resources, would be able to take action as a shareholder, such as
electing new directors or approving a merger, only at a duly called
shareholders' meeting.
Under the CNG bylaws, meetings of shareholders may be called by the chairman
of the board or at the request in writing of a majority of the board of
directors or at the request in writing of the holders of 75 percent or more of
the outstanding shares of CNG common stock.
Shareholder Action Without a Meeting
Virginia law permits action by the shareholders of a public company such as
Dominion Resources without a meeting, provided that all the shareholders
consent in writing to the action taken.
The Certificate of Incorporation of CNG provides for written action by
shareholders without a meeting, provided that holders of 75 percent or more of
the shares entitled to vote consent in writing to such action. Prompt notice of
the taking of any action by less than unanimous consent must be given to
shareholders who did not consent to such action and who, if the action had
taken place at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice.
Shareholders' Inspection Rights
Virginia law provides for shareholder inspection of the "corporate records"
of Virginia corporations upon written demand at least five business days prior
to such inspection, provided that the requesting shareholder (i) has been a
shareholder of record for at least the six months preceding the written demand;
(ii) makes a demand in good faith and for a proper purpose; (iii) describes,
with particularity, the purpose and the records to be inspected; and (iv)
requests records that are connected with the purpose. Under Virginia law,
"corporate records" include the following: (a) excerpts from minutes of any
meeting of the board of directors, records of any action of a committee of the
board of directors while acting in place of the board of directors on behalf of
the corporation, minutes of the shareholders, and records of action taken by
shareholders or board of directors without a meeting, to the extent permitted
under statute; (b) accounting records of the corporation; and (c) the record of
shareholders.
Under Delaware law, a shareholder may inspect a corporation's stock ledgers,
the shareholders' list and its other books and records for any purpose
reasonably related to such person's interest as a shareholder.
Directors' Duties
The standard of conduct for directors of Virginia corporations are listed in
Section 13.1-690 of the Code of Virginia. Directors must discharge their duties
in accordance with their "good faith business judgment of the best interest of
the corporation." Directors may rely on the advice or acts of others, including
officers, employees, attorneys, accountants and board committees if they have a
good faith belief in their competence. Directors' actions are not subject to a
"reasonableness" or "prudent person" standard. Virginia's federal courts have
focused on the process involved with directors' decisionmaking and are
generally supportive of directors if they have based their decision on an
informed process. These elements of Virginia law could make it more difficult
to take over a Virginia corporation than corporations in other states.
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_______________________________________ Comparative Rights of Shareholders
There is no corresponding provision in the Delaware General Corporation Law.
The Delaware standards of conduct for directors have developed through written
opinions of the Delaware courts. Generally, directors of Delaware corporations
are subject to a duty of loyalty and a duty of care. The duty of loyalty has
been said to require directors to refrain from self-dealing. According to the
Delaware Supreme Court, the duty of care requires "directors . . . in managing
the corporate affairs . . . to use that amount of care which ordinarily careful
and prudent men would use in similar circumstances." Later case law has
established "gross negligence" as the test for breach of the standard for the
duty of care in the process of decision-making by directors of Delaware
corporations. Delaware courts have also indicated that directors may consider
the interests of various non-shareholder constituencies provided there exists
some rationally related benefit to the shareholders.
Limitations on Director and Officer Liability; Indemnification
Dominion Resources' Articles of Incorporation contain a provision that
eliminates or limits a director's personal liability for monetary damages to
Dominion Resources or its shareholders to the full extent permitted under
Virginia law, as it may be amended from time to time. Under Virginia law, in
any proceeding brought by or on behalf of a shareholder of the company or in
the right of the company, the damages assessed against an officer or director
arising out of a single transaction, occurrence or course of conduct, shall not
exceed the lesser of: (1) the monetary amount, including the elimination of
liability, specified in the articles of incorporation or, if approved by the
shareholders, in the bylaws as a limitation on or elimination of the liability
of the officer or director; or (2) the greater of (i) $100,000 or (ii) the
amount of cash compensation received by the officer or director from the
company during the twelve months immediately preceding the act or omission for
which liability was imposed. However, an officer or director will be liable
without limitation if he or she engaged in willful misconduct or knowing
violation of criminal law or any federal or state securities law, including,
without limitation, any claim of unlawful insider trading or manipulation of
the market of any security.
As permitted by Delaware law, the Certificate of Incorporation of CNG
provides that a director of the company shall not be liable for breach of his
or her duty as a director, except for liability for: (i) any breach of the
director's duty of loyalty to the company or its shareholders; (ii) acts or
omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a
knowing violation of the law; (iii) under Section 174 of Delaware law which
imposes liability on directors for unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful
stock repurchases; or (iv) any transaction from which the director derived an
improper personal benefit. The Certificate of Incorporation does not limit the
personal liability of officers.
Indemnification provisions contained in the Articles of Incorporation of
Dominion Resources and the Bylaws of CNG as governed by Virginia law and
Delaware law, respectively, are similar. Both provisions generally require
indemnification of directors and officers to the full extent permitted by law.
In general, Virginia law and Delaware law permit a corporation to provide
indemnification for officers, directors, employees or agents of the corporation
(or any such person serving in such capacities for another entity at the
request of the company) who are parties or are threatened to be made parties to
any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in
the right of the corporation), against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts
paid in settlement that are actually and reasonably incurred.
Under Virginia law, indemnification is permitted, if so provided in the
articles of incorporation, as is the case with Dominion Resources, in all
instances, except indemnity against willful misconduct or knowing violation of
the criminal law.
Under Delaware law, indemnification is permitted if the indemnitee acted in
good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in the
corporation's best interest, and in a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable
cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful.
Under the Articles of Incorporation of Dominion Resources and the Bylaws of
CNG and under Virginia law and Delaware law, prior approval of a majority of
the company's Board of Directors is required before an
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Comparative Rights of Shareholders______________________________________
officer or director may be indemnified. However, where there is not a quorum of
the disinterested members of the Board of Directors, then such determination of
indemnification may be made as otherwise provided under the respective
statutes.
Delaware law prohibits indemnification if the proposed indemnitee is adjudged
liable to the corporation, except upon application to a court which determines
such person is reasonably entitled to such indemnification. The limitation does
not apply to directors of Dominion Resources. The rights of Dominion Resources'
and CNG's directors and officers to indemnification are not exclusive of any
other right which they may have or acquire under any statute, the Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws of Dominion Resources, the Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws of CNG, any agreement, vote of shareholders or
directors, or otherwise.
Common Stock Purchase Rights
Dominion Resources does not have a shareholders rights plan.
CNG is a party to a Rights Agreement, pursuant to which CNG common stock
trades with the CNG Rights. The CNG Rights Agreement was amended to provide
that none of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement shall be a
triggering event. The CNG Rights, which cannot be traded separately from CNG
common stock, become exercisable upon the occurrence of certain triggering
events, including the accumulation by a person or group of ten percent or more
of CNG common stock. Upon the occurrence of a merger or other business
combination in which the interests of the holders of CNG common stock are
changed, holders of the rights, other than the "acquiring person," will be
entitled to purchase CNG common stock or stock of the "acquiring person," at
half its market value. In addition, any time after a person or group acquires
ten percent or more of outstanding shares of CNG common stock, the CNG Board
may, at its option, exchange part or all of the rights (other than rights held
by the "acquiring person") for CNG common stock on a one-for-one basis. The CNG
Rights could have the effect of delaying, deferring, or preventing a takeover
or change of control of CNG under certain circumstances.
Anti-takeover Statutes
Virginia law and Delaware law regulate transactions with major shareholders
after they become major shareholders.
Virginia law provides Virginia corporations with additional protections
against hostile takeovers. The Virginia Affiliated Transactions Act restricts
certain transactions between a Virginia corporation and a holder of 10 percent
or more of the corporation's outstanding voting stock, together with affiliates
or associates thereof (an "interested shareholder"). For a period of three
years following the date that a shareholder becomes an interested shareholder,
the Virginia Affiliated Transactions Act generally prohibits the following
types of transactions between the corporation and the interested shareholder
(unless certain conditions, described below, are met): (i) mergers; (ii) sales,
leases, exchanges, mortgages, pledges, transfers or other dispositions (in one
or a series of transactions) having a total market value in excess of five
percent of the corporation's consolidated net worth; (iii) any guarantees of
indebtedness of any interested shareholder in an amount in excess of five
percent of the corporation's consolidated net worth; (iv) sales or other
dispositions by the corporation or any subsidiary thereof of any voting shares
of the corporation or any subsidiary thereof having a market value of five
percent or more of the total market value of the outstanding voting shares of
the corporation to any interested shareholder or affiliate of any interested
shareholder other than pursuant to a stock dividend or the exercise of rights
or warrants; (v) the dissolution of the corporation if proposed by or on behalf
of an interested shareholder; (vi) any reclassification of securities,
including any reverse stock split, or recapitalization of the corporation, or
any merger of the corporation with any of its subsidiaries or any distribution
or other transaction which has the effect directly or indirectly of increasing
by more than 5 percent the percentage of the outstanding voting shares of the
corporation or any of its subsidiaries beneficially owned by any interested
shareholder; and (vii) any share exchange in which an interested shareholder
acquires a class or series of the corporation's voting stock, unless the
affiliated transaction is approved by (a) a majority of the disinterested
directors, and (b) two-thirds of the disinterested voting shares. Additionally,
after the three-year prohibition on
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_______________________________________ Comparative Rights of Shareholders
affiliated transactions has expired, an affiliated transaction must be approved
by two-thirds of the votes cast by disinterested shareholders.
The foregoing voting requirements do not apply if the particular affiliated
transaction (i) has been approved by a majority of the disinterested directors;
(ii) meets the fair price requirements of the Virginia Affiliated Transactions
Act; or (iii) qualifies for one of the statutory exemptions. A Virginia
corporation may exempt itself from the requirements of the statute in its
articles of incorporation. In this regard, the company has not exempted itself
from the provisions of the Virginia Affiliated Transactions Act. Additionally,
the Virginia Affiliated Transactions Act does not apply to corporations with
less than 300 shareholders of record.
Under Delaware law, a Delaware corporation is prohibited from engaging in
mergers, dispositions of 10 percent or more of its assets, and issuances of
stock and other transactions ("business combinations") with a person or group
that owns 15 percent or more of the voting stock of the corporation (an
"interested shareholder"), for a period of three years after the interested
shareholder crosses the 15 percent threshold. These restrictions on
transactions involving an interested shareholder do not apply in certain
circumstances, including those transactions in which (i) prior to an interested
shareholder owning 15 percent or more of the voting stock, the board of
directors approved the business combination or the transaction that resulted in
the person or group becoming an interested shareholder; (ii) in a transaction
that resulted in a person or group becoming an interested shareholder, the
person or group acquired at least 85 percent of the voting stock other than
stock owned by inside directors and certain employee stock plans; (iii) after
the person or group became an interested shareholder, the board of directors
and at least 66 2/3 percent of the voting stock other than stock owned by the
interested shareholder approved the business combination; or (iv) certain
competitive bidding circumstances were present.
Virginia law also contains the Virginia Control Share Acquisition Act, which
requires an interested investor who acquires a threshold percentage of stock in
a target corporation to obtain the approval of non-interested shareholders
before it may exercise voting rights. Under the Virginia Control Share
Acquisition Act, certain notice and informational filings and special
shareholder meeting and voting procedures must be followed prior to
consummation of a proposed "control share acquisition," which is generally
defined as any acquisition of an issuer's shares which would entitle the
acquiror, immediately after such acquisition, directly or indirectly, to
exercise or direct the exercise of voting power of the issuer in the election
of directors within any of the following ranges of such voting power: (i) one-
fifth or more but less than one-third of such voting power; (ii) one-third or
more but less than a majority of such voting power; or (iii) a majority or more
of such voting power. Assuming compliance with the notice and information
filings prescribed by statute, the proposed control share acquisition may be
made only if the acquisition is approved by a majority of all votes entitled to
be cast for the election of directors, excluding the combined voting power of
the "interested shares" (generally, the shares held by the intended acquiror
and the directors and officers of the issuer). A Virginia corporation may
include a provision in its articles of incorporation or bylaws exempting the
corporation from Virginia's Control Share Acquisitions Statute. Dominion
Resources, however, has not exempted itself from the provisions of Virginia's
Control Share Acquisitions Statute. Delaware law does not contain any similar
type of statute.
The Dominion Resources Bylaws give Dominion Resources the right to redeem the
shares purchased by an acquiring person in a control share acquisition.
Dominion Resources can call the shares for redemption if the acquiring person
fails to deliver a statement to Dominion Resources listing information required
by the Virginia Act or if Dominion Resources shareholders vote not to grant
voting rights to the acquiring person.
Consolidation, Merger, Share Exchange and Transfer of Assets
In addition to the anti-takeover provisions discussed above, Virginia law
requires consolidations, mergers, share exchanges and certain asset transfers
to be approved by shareholders. Under Virginia law and Dominion Resources'
Articles of Incorporation, the vote required for approval by each voting group
entitled to vote is a majority of the votes present at a meeting at which a
quorum of the voting group exists.
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Comparative Rights of Shareholders_______________________________________
Delaware law does not require shareholder approval in the case of asset and
share acquisitions and, in general, requires approval of mergers and
disposition of substantially all of a corporation's assets by a majority vote
of the voting power of the corporation.
Shareholders' Rights in Certain Transactions
Virginia law provides generally, with certain exceptions hereinafter
described, that a shareholder of a Virginia corporation has the right to demand
and receive payment of the fair value of the shareholder's stock from a
successor corporation if: (i) the corporation merges or consolidates with
another corporation; (ii) the shareholder's stock is to be acquired in a share
exchange; (iii) the corporation transfers its assets other than in the ordinary
course of business; or (iv) the corporation alters its charter in a way which
alters contractual rights, as expressly set forth in the charter, of any
outstanding stock and substantially adversely affects the shareholder's rights,
unless the right to do so is reserved by the charter of the corporation.
In order for a shareholder to perfect their dissenters rights, such
shareholder must file with the corporation prior to the vote a demand in
writing for the fair cash value of his shares of his or her intent to demand
payment. Virginia law provides that the right to fair value does not apply,
with certain exceptions, if shareholders are required by the terms of agreement
to accept consideration other than, among other things, shares of stock of any
stock listed on a national securities exchange or cash or a combination
thereof.
Since holders of Dominion Resources common stock will receive either cash,
shares of stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or both, they are not
entitled to appraisal rights under Virginia law.
Delaware law provides similar rights in the context of a merger or
consolidation only.
Dominion Resources' shareholders will not have dissenters' rights in
connection with the types of transactions as described under Virginia law above
either before or after the mergers since the company's stock is and will be
held by at least 2,000 record shareholders.
CNG shareholders have dissenters' rights of appraisal in the Second Merger
since they may be required to accept consideration that is not solely stock and
cash in lieu of fractional shares.
Anti-takeover Effects
Many of the provisions contained in the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
of Dominion Resources and under Virginia law are similar to the provisions
contained in the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of CNG and under
Delaware law. These provisions could have the effect of discouraging an
acquisition of the company or stock purchases in furtherance of an acquisition,
and could, under certain circumstances, discourage transactions which might
otherwise have a favorable effect on the price of the company's common stock.
These provisions may serve to make it more difficult to remove incumbent
management and may also discourage all attempts to acquire control not approved
by the Board of Directors for any reason. As a result, shareholders who might
desire to participate in, or benefit from, such a transaction may not have an
opportunity to do so.
Amendment of Articles of Incorporation
Generally, the Dominion Resources Articles of Incorporation may be amended by
a majority of the votes present by each voting group entitled to vote on a
given matter. Some provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, however, may
only be amended or repealed by a vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding
shares entitled to vote.
Under Delaware law, amendments to the certificate of incorporation may be
authorized by the vote of the holders of a majority of all outstanding shares
entitled to vote thereon. The CNG Certificate of Incorporation provides that
certain specified sections may only be amended by the affirmative vote of
holders of 75 percent or more of the outstanding shares of CNG common stock.
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____________________________________________________ Amendment To Articles
AMENDMENT TO THE DOMINION RESOURCES' ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
Dominion Resources' shareholders are being asked to vote on a proposed
amendment to that company's Articles of Incorporation.
Under Article III of its Articles of Incorporation Dominion Resources has
authority to issue 300,000,000 shares of common stock. The Dominion Resources
Board of Directors is recommending that this Article be revised to allow the
company authority to issue 500,000,000 shares of common stock.
This amendment will provide Dominion Resources with the shares it needs for
issuance under the merger agreement. Following the mergers, current Dominion
Resources shareholders will own approximately 65 percent of the combined
company and current CNG shareholders will own approximately 35 percent of the
combined company.
After the mergers, Dominion Resources expects to have 250,169,392 shares of
Dominion Resources common stock outstanding. If the amendment to increase the
number of authorized shares is approved, but the mergers fails, Dominion
Resources will have 308,039,134 authorized but unissued shares.
These additional authorized shares will give Dominion Resources the ability
to respond to future business needs and opportunities and, after the mergers,
will be available for issuance by Dominion Resources without further approval
by the shareholders. Dominion Resources would be able to issue additional
shares in connection with other acquisitions, investment opportunities or for
other corporate purposes. Other corporate purposes might include a public
offering to raise capital funds, debt or equity securities that would be
convertible to common stock, and the issuance of common stock in connection
with Dominion Resources' employee benefit and stock purchase plans. The
percentage interest of current Dominion Resources shareholders could be reduced
if these additional authorized shares were issued to new shareholders.
The Board of Directors could use the additional shares of common stock to
discourage an attempt to change control of Dominion Resources. However, the
Board of Directors does not intend to issue common stock for that purpose and
this proposal is not being recommended in response to any specific effort to
obtain control of Dominion Resources.
The Board of Directors has unanimously approved this amendment.
The Board of Directors recommends that Dominion Resources shareholders vote
FOR the proposed amendment to the Dominion Resources Articles of Incorporation.
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Financial Information ___________________________________________________
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL DATA
The following unaudited pro forma information reflects the historical
combined condensed consolidated financial data of Dominion Resources and CNG
after accounting for the mergers as a purchase business combination.
Accordingly, you should read the following information together with the
historical consolidated financial statements of Dominion Resources and CNG and
all related notes, which are incorporated into this document by reference. The
unaudited pro forma combined condensed consolidated balance sheet assumes the
mergers became effective as of March 31, 1999. The unaudited pro forma combined
condensed consolidated statements of income from continuing operations assume
the mergers became effective on January 1, 1998.
The information presented below is not necessarily indicative of the results
of operations that might have occurred had the merger actually closed on
January 1, 1998, or the actual financial position that might have resulted had
the merger actually closed on March 31, 1999. The information is also not
necessarily indicative of the future results of operations or financial
position of Dominion Resources.
The Transaction
The following unaudited pro forma financial statements give effect to the
mergers. In the First Merger, Dominion Resources will merge with New Sub I, its
wholly owned subsidiary, and Dominion Resources will be the surviving
corporation and will retain its existing structure. The Second Merger involves
either
. CNG merging with and into New Sub II, a wholly owned Delaware subsidiary
of Dominion Resources, with New Sub II as the surviving company or
. CNG merging directly into Dominion Resources. In that case, Dominion
Resources will be the surviving entity.
The surviving company in the Second Merger, will assume all the rights and
obligations of CNG.
The pro forma combined condensed consolidated financial data assume a base
case that all CNG shares were tendered for cash consideration of $26.64 per
share plus an exchange ratio of 0.912 per share of Dominion Resources stock.
The total consideration for the transaction using this value was approximately
$6.4 billion.
Accounting Treatment
The Second Merger will be accounted for by the purchase method. Under the
purchase method of accounting, CNG's exploration and production properties,
which are not regulated, will be recorded at their fair values. The remaining
difference between the purchase price of CNG, including direct costs of the
acquisition, and the historical amounts of the assets and liabilities of CNG's
regulated operations will be recorded as an acquisition adjustment in
accordance with accounting for regulated public utilities. Allocations included
in the pro forma statements are based on analysis which is not yet completed.
Accordingly, the final value of the purchase price and its allocation may
differ, perhaps significantly, from the amount included in these pro forma
statements.
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____________________________________________________ Financial Information
Dominion Resources and Subsidiary Companies
Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income from
Continuing Operations
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31, 1998
------------------------------------------------------
Dominion
Resources CNG Pro Forma Pro Forma
(As Reported) (As Reported) Adjustments Combined
------------- ------------- ----------- ---------
(in millions--except per share amounts)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
OPERATING REVENUES AND
INCOME
Virginia Power........ $4,285 $4,285
Consolidated Natural
Gas.................. $2,760 2,760
East Midlands......... 1,009 1,009
Nonutility............ 792 792
------ ------ ------
Total operating revenues
and income............. 6,086 2,760 8,846
------ ------ ------
OPERATING EXPENSES
Fuel, net............. 953 953
Purchased power
capacity, net........ 806 806
Purchased gas......... 900 900
Liquids, capacity and
other products
purchased............ 145 145
Supply and
distribution--East
Midlands............. 655 655
Impairment of
regulatory assets.... 159 159
Other operation and
maintenance.......... 1,381 709 $ 80 (G) 2,170
Depreciation,
depletion &
amortization......... 734 330 183 (E) 1,247
Other taxes........... 307 179 486
------ ------ ----- ------
Total operating
expenses............... 4,995 2,263 263 7,521
------ ------ ----- ------
Operating income........ 1,091 497 (263) 1,325
------ ------ ----- ------
OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSE
Gain on Sale of East
Midlands............. 332 332
Other................. 94 35 129
------ ------ ----- ------
Total other income...... 426 35 -- 461
------ ------ ----- ------
Income before fixed
charges, income taxes
and minority
interests.............. 1,517 532 (263) 1,786
------ ------ ----- ------
FIXED CHARGES
Interest charges...... 583 114 243 (A) 940
Preferred dividends of
Va. Power............ 29 29
Distributions--
preferred securities
of sub. trusts....... 36 36
------ ------ ----- ------
Total fixed charges..... 648 114 243 1,005
------ ------ ----- ------
Income before provision
for income taxes and
minority interests..... 869 418 (506) 781
Provision for income
taxes.................. 306 130 (156) (D/4/) 280
Minority interests...... 27 27
------ ------ ----- ------
INCOME FROM CONTINUING
OPERATIONS............. $ 536 $ 288 $(350) $ 474
====== ====== ===== ======
Average Number of Shares
Outstanding............ 194.9 94.8 (37.3) 252.4
------ ------ ===== ------
EARNINGS PER SHARE
(basic)
Income from Continuing
Operations............. $ 2.75 $ 3.03 $ 1.88
====== ====== ======
EARNINGS PER SHARE
(diluted)
Income from Continuing
Operations............. $ 2.75 $ 3.00 $ 1.87
====== ====== ======
</TABLE>
See Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Consolidated Financial
Data.
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Financial Information ___________________________________________________
Dominion Resources and Subsidiary Companies
Unaudited Pro Forma Combined CondensedConsolidated Statement of Income from
Continuing Operations
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Three Months Ended March 31, 1999
-----------------------------------------------------
Dominion
Resources CNG Pro Forma Pro Forma
(As Reported) (As Reported) Adjustments Combined
------------- ------------- ----------- ---------
(in millions--except per share amounts)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
OPERATING REVENUES AND
INCOME
Virginia Power........ $1,088 $1,088
Consolidated Natural
Gas.................. $1,046 1,046
Nonutility............ 205 205
------ ------ ------
Total operating revenues
and income............. 1,293 1,046 2,339
------ ------ ------
OPERATING EXPENSES
Fuel, net............. 218 218
Purchased power
capacity, net........ 210 210
Purchased gas......... 416 416
Liquids, capacity and
other products
purchased............ 58 58
Other operation and
maintenance.......... 293 176 $ 16 (G) 485
Depreciation,
depletion &
amortization......... 178 87 67 (E) 332
Other taxes........... 80 66 146
------ ------ ----- ------
Total operating
expenses............... 979 803 83 1,865
------ ------ ----- ------
Operating income........ 314 243 (83) 474
------ ------ ----- ------
OTHER INCOME AND
EXPENSE................ 34 1 -- 35
------ ------ ----- ------
Income before fixed
charges, income taxes
and minority
interests.............. 348 244 (83) 509
------ ------ ----- ------
FIXED CHARGES
Interest charges...... 120 29 61 (A) 210
Preferred dividends of
Va. Power............ 9 9
Distributions--
preferred securities
of sub. trusts....... 8 8
------ ------ ----- ------
Total fixed charges..... 137 29 61 227
------ ------ ----- ------
Income before provision
for income taxes and
minority interests..... 211 215 (144) 282
Provision for income
taxes.................. 66 76 (46)(D/4/) 96
Minority interests...... 6 6
------ ------ ----- ------
INCOME FROM CONTINUING
OPERATIONS............. $ 139 $ 139 $ (98) $ 180
====== ====== ===== ======
Average Number of Shares
Outstanding............ 193.4 95.4 (37.6) 251.2
====== ====== ===== ======
EARNINGS PER SHARE
(basic)
Income from Continuing
Operations......... $ 0.72 $ 1.46 $ 0.71
====== ====== ======
EARNINGS PER SHARE
(diluted)
Income from Continuing
Operations........... $ 0.72 $ 1.44 $ 0.71
====== ====== ======
</TABLE>
See Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Consolidated Financial
Data.
90
<PAGE>
____________________________________________________ Financial Information
Dominion Resources and Subsidiary Companies
Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
March 31, 1999
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Dominion CNG
Resources (As Pro Forma Pro Forma
(As Reported) Reported) Adjustments Combined
ASSETS ------------- --------- ----------- ---------
(in millions)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents.. $ 473 $ 65 $ 538
Accounts receivable, net... 950 601 1,551
Materials and supplies
Plant and general........ 145 30 175
Fossil fuel.............. 97 97
Gas stored............... 14 14
Mortgage loans in
warehouse................. 230 230
Commodity contract assets.. 163 163
Other...................... 332 227 $ 62 (H) 621
------- ------ ------ -------
2,390 937 62 3,389
------- ------ ------ -------
INVESTMENTS
Loans receivable, net...... 1,766 1,766
Other investments.......... 2,085 308 2,393
------- ------ -------
3,851 308 4,159
------- ------ -------
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Net utility and other
plant................... 10,099 3,094 13,193
Net exploration and
production properties... 584 1,428 600 (D/2/) 2,612
Acquisition adjustment... -- -- 3,649 (D/1/) 3,649
------- ------ ------ -------
10,683 4,522 4,249 19,454
------- ------ ------ -------
DEFERRED CHARGES AND OTHER
ASSETS
Goodwill................... 148 148
Regulatory assets.......... 210 206 416
Other...................... 206 257 463
------- ------ -------
564 463 1,027
------- ------ ------ -------
TOTAL ASSETS............. $17,488 $6,230 $4,311 $28,029
======= ====== ====== =======
</TABLE>
See Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Consolidated Financial
Data.
91
<PAGE>
Financial Information ___________________________________________________
Dominion Resources and Subsidiary Companies
Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
March 31, 1999
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Dominion
Resources CNG Pro Forma Pro Forma
LIABILITIES AND As Reported As Reported Adjustments Combined
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY ----------- ----------- ----------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
CURRENT LIABILITIES (in millions)
Securities due within one
year..................... $ 493 $ 107 $ 600
Short-term debt........... 659 388 $3,943(A,H) 4,990
Accounts payable.......... 625 292 55(F) 972
Commodity contract
liabilities.............. 233 233
Accrued taxes............. 254 130 384
Other..................... 391 383 774
------- ------ ------ -------
2,655 1,300 3,998 7,953
------- ------ ------ -------
LONG-TERM DEBT.............. 6,456 1,380 7,836
------- ------ ------ -------
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER
LIABILITIES
Deferred income taxes..... 1,657 807 228(D/3/) 2,692
Investment tax credits.... 159 24 183
Other..................... 220 231 451
------- ------ ------ -------
2,036 1,062 228 3,326
------- ------ ------ -------
Total liabilities......... 11,147 3,742 4,226 19,115
------- ------ ------ -------
MINORITY INTEREST........... 300 300
------- ------ ------ -------
OBLIGATED MANDATORILY
REDEEMABLE PREFERRED
SECURITIES OF SUBSIDIARY
TRUSTS..................... 385 385
------- ------ ------ -------
PREFERRED STOCK:
Subject to mandatory
redemption............... 180 180
------- ------ ------ -------
Not subject to mandatory
redemption............... 509 509
------- ------ ------ -------
COMMON SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock.............. 3,831 233 2,340(B,C) 6,404
Retained earnings......... 1,143 1,690 (1,690) 1,143
Accumulated other
comprehensive income..... (23) (6) 6 (23)
Other paid in capital..... 16 571 (571) 16
------- ------ ------ -------
4,967 2,488 85 7,540
------- ------ ------ -------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY....... $17,488 $6,230 $4,311 $28,029
======= ====== ====== =======
</TABLE>
See Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Consolidated Financial
Data.
92
<PAGE>
____________________________________________________ Financial Information
Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Consolidated
Financial Data
The Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Consolidated Financial Data are
based on the following assumptions:
A. The issuance of $3.9 billion, 5.29 percent commercial paper of Dominion
Resources prior to the mergers. The fees associated with this debt will be
$35 million. Dominion Resources anticipates replacing a significant portion
of the commercial paper with proceeds from issuance of debt, preferred,
and/or convertible securities and divestiture of other non-core assets.
B. The issuance of 87.0 million shares of Dominion Resources common stock for
$3.8 billion and the cash distribution of $2.6 billion in exchange for the
outstanding shares of CNG at the closing of the Second Merger.
C. The repurchase of 28.8 million shares of Dominion Resources common stock for
$1.2 billion in the First Merger.
D. Purchase adjustments which have been made to the assets and liabilities of
CNG to reflect the effect of the Second Merger accounted for as a purchase
business combination are as follows (in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Purchase Adjustments
--------------------
<S> <C>
Acquisition adjustment............................................. $3,649
Net exploration and production properties.......................... 600
Deferred taxes..................................................... (228)
</TABLE>
1. Included in acquisition adjustment are adjustments to reflect the net
increase in fair value of CNG's assets and liabilities, including a $2.8
billion increase in transmission and distribution properties and a $800
million increase in CNG's pension assets.
2. Included in net exploration and production properties is an adjustment
to reflect the net increase in the fair value of CNG's exploration and
production properties.
3. Included in deferred taxes is an adjustment to record the deferred taxes
resulting from the net increase in the fair value of CNG's exploration
and production properties.
4. The estimated provision for income taxes related to the pro forma
adjustments are based on an assumed combined federal and state income
tax rate of 38 percent.
E. Pro forma adjustments reflect the amortization of the acquisition adjustment
using the straight line method over 40 years and the depletion related to
the increase in fair value of the exploration and production properties
under the successful efforts method of accounting. See Note G.
F. The companies expect to record direct costs of the mergers (including fees
of financial advisors, legal counsel and independent auditors). The direct
costs of the merger are estimated to be $55 million. The estimated charges
and nature of costs included therein are subject to change, as more accurate
estimates become available.
The Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Consolidated Financial Data do
not reflect the non-recurring costs and expenses associated with integrating
the operations of the two companies, nor any of the anticipated recurring
expense savings arising from the integration. Costs of integration will
result in significant non-recurring charges to the combined results of
operations after consummation of the merger; however, the actual amount of
such charges cannot be determined until the transition plan relating to the
integration of operations is completed.
93
<PAGE>
Financial Information ___________________________________________________
G. Dominion Resources uses the successful efforts method to account for its oil
and gas operations. CNG utilizes the full cost method of accounting for its
oil and gas operations. The pro forma data reflects CNG's change from the
full cost method to the successful efforts method which resulted in a $16
million and $6 million decrease in earnings in the income statement for the
year ended December 31, 1998 and the three months ended March 31, 1999,
respectively. Dominion Resources is evaluating the preferability of changing
its method of accounting for oil and gas properties from the successful
efforts to the full cost method. If the proforma financial data had been
prepared on the full cost method of accounting for both companies, income
from continuing operations per share would increase $.25 per share from
$1.88 per share to $2.13 per share and $.03 per share from $0.71 per share
to $0.74 per share for the year ended December 31, 1998 and the three months
ended March 31, 1999, respectively.
H. Pursuant to the terms of CNG's stock incentive plans, holders of vested
options are granted limited stock appreciation rights upon a change of
control. For a period of 60 days subsequent to the change of control, the
employee may elect to receive a cash payment in exchange for vested options.
The amount received will be based on the value determined per the associated
plans, which considers the option price, CNG stock price during the 30-day
period prior to the change of control and the price to be received by CNG
shareholders in the merger transaction.
CNG will incur charges to compensation expense in 1999 resulting from the
exercise of the rights whether or not the merger is consummated. The amount
of the charge will be determined based on the value of the options
exchanged and the number of rights exercised. The total charge to
compensation expense is expected to be approximately $164 million, or $102
million net of tax. As this charge is pre-acquisition, it is reflected in
retained earnings and is not included in the unaudited pro forma income
statements.
94
<PAGE>
____________________________________________________________ Legal Matters
LEGAL MATTERS
The legality of the Dominion Resources shares being offered hereby is being
passed upon for Dominion Resources by James F. Stutts, Esquire, its Vice
President and General Counsel. Mr. Stutts is a full-time employee and officer
of Dominion Resources and owned 3,097 shares of Dominion Resources common stock
as of April 29, 1999.
EXPERTS
The financial statements of Dominion Resources, Inc. and subsidiaries as of
December 31, 1998 and 1997 and for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 1998 incorporated by reference in this joint proxy
statement/prospectus have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent
auditors, as stated in their report which is incorporated herein by reference,
and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given
upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated financial statements of Consolidated Natural Gas Company and
its subsidiaries incorporated in this joint proxy statement/prospectus by
reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Consolidated Natural Gas Company
for the year ended December 31, 1998, have been so incorporated in reliance on
the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, given on the
authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The estimates of gas and oil reserves included in the aforesaid Annual Report
on Form 10-K of Consolidated Natural Gas Company for the year ended December
31, 1998 are incorporated in this joint proxy statement/prospectus by reference
thereto in reliance upon the report of Ralph E. Davis Associates, Inc.,
independent geologists, as experts.
SUBMISSION OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Dominion Resources shareholders must follow certain advance notice procedures
in order to submit a shareholder proposal. For the proposal to be considered at
the 2000 Annual Meeting, it must be in writing and received by the Corporate
Secretary by January 15, 2000. For the proposal to be included in the Dominion
Resources 2000 proxy statement, the Corporate Secretary must receive it no
later than December 15, 1999. Dominion Resources plans to hold its 2000 Annual
Meeting on April 21, 2000. Proposals should be sent to the Corporate Secretary,
Dominion Resources, Inc., 120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219.
In order for proposals of CNG shareholders intended to be presented at the
annual meeting of shareholders to be held Tuesday, April 11, 2000 (if the
Second Merger is not consummated prior to such time) and to be considered for
inclusion in the CNG proxy statement and form of proxy relating to that
meeting, such proposals must be received by CNG on or before November 3, 1999.
The CNG Corporate Secretary must be notified on or before January 19, 2000 of
any shareholder proposal intended to be submitted to the 2000 Annual Meeting
but not included in CNG's proxy materials for that meeting. Proposals should be
sent to the Corporate Secretary, Consolidated Natural Gas Company, CNG Tower,
625 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-3199.
If Dominion Resources and CNG shareholders do not provide the proper notice
described above, the Chairman of their meeting may exclude the matter, and it
will not be acted upon at the meeting. If the Chairman does not exclude the
matter, the proxies may vote in the manner they believe is appropriate, as the
Securities and Exchange Commission's rules allow.
95
<PAGE>
Additional Information to Shareholders __________________________________
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
Dominion Resources and CNG file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy
statements and other information with the SEC. SEC filings are available to the
public over the Internet at the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may
also read and copy any document filed at the SEC's public reference rooms in
Washington, D.C., New York, New York and Chicago, Illinois. Please call the SEC
at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms.
The SEC allows companies to "incorporate by reference" the information filed
with them, which means that important information can be disclosed to you by
referring to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an
important part of this joint proxy statement/prospectus, and information that
is filed by the companies later with the Securities and Exchange Commission
will automatically update and supersede this information. The documents listed
below and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 14 or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are incorporated by reference.
Filed by Dominion Resources:
Form 10-Q filed May 17, 1999
Form 8-K filed March 29, 1999
Form 10-K filed March 1, 1999
Form 8-B (Item 4) dated April 29,
1983 (Description of Dominion
Resources common stock)
Filed by CNG:
Form 10-Q filed May 14, 1999
Form 10-K filed March 15, 1999
Form 8-K filed May 20, 1999
Form 8-K filed May 7, 1999
Form 8-K filed March 1, 1999
You may request a copy of these filings at no cost, by writing or telephoning
the respective companies at the following address:
Corporate Secretary
Dominion Resources, Inc.
120 Tredegar Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 819-2000
Corporate Secretary
Consolidated Natural Gas Company
625 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-3199
(412) 690-1000
You should rely on the information incorporated by reference or provided in
this joint proxy statement/prospectus or any prospectus supplement. No one else
is authorized to provide you with different information. No offer is being made
of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should
not assume that the information in this joint proxy statement/prospectus or any
prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the
front of those documents.
96
<PAGE>
ANNEXES
<PAGE>
Annex A--Agreement and Plan of Merger
Amended and Restated
AGREEMENT AND PLAN
OF MERGER
by and between
DOMINION RESOURCES, INC.
and
CONSOLIDATED NATURAL GAS COMPANY
Dated as of May 11, 1999
<PAGE>
Annex A--Agreement and Plan of Merger
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page A-
-------
ARTICLE I
<C> <S> <C>
The Merger........................................................... 1
Section I.1 The Mergers........................................... 1
Section I.2 Alternative Merger.................................... 2
Section I.3 Effective Time of the Mergers......................... 2
Section I.4 Effects of Merger..................................... 2
ARTICLE II
Treatment of Shares.................................................. 3
Section II.1 Effect on the Capital Stock of DRI.................... 3
Section II.2 Effect on Capital Stock of CNG of the Second Merger... 4
Section II.3 Exchange of Certificates.............................. 7
Section II.4 Dissenting Shares..................................... 9
ARTICLE III
The Closing.......................................................... 10
Section III.1 Closing............................................... 10
ARTICLE IV
Representations and Warranties of DRI................................ 10
Section IV.1 Organization and Qualification........................ 10
Section IV.2 Subsidiaries.......................................... 10
Section IV.3 Capitalization........................................ 11
Authority; Non-Contravention; Statutory Approvals;
Section IV.4 Compliance........................................... 11
Section IV.5 Reports and Financial Statements...................... 12
Section IV.6 Absence of Certain Changes or Events.................. 12
Section IV.7 Registration Statement and Proxy Statement............ 13
Section IV.8 Employee Matters; ERISA............................... 13
Section IV.9 Regulation as a Utility............................... 13
Section IV.10 Vote Required......................................... 14
Section IV.11 [intentionally omitted]............................... 14
Section IV.12 Opinion of Financial Advisor.......................... 14
Section IV.13 Ownership of CNG Common Stock......................... 14
Section IV.14 Anti-Takeover Provisions.............................. 14
Section IV.15 Nuclear Operations.................................... 14
Section IV.16 NRC Actions........................................... 14
Section IV.17 Environmental Protection.............................. 14
Section IV.18 Trading Position Risk Management...................... 15
Section IV.19 Litigation............................................ 15
Section IV.20 Dividends............................................. 15
Section IV.21 Merger Subs........................................... 15
ARTICLE V
Representations and Warranties of CNG................................ 15
Section V.1 Organization and Qualification........................ 15
Section V.2 Subsidiaries.......................................... 15
Section V.3 Capitalization........................................ 16
</TABLE>
i
<PAGE>
Annex A--Agreement and Plan of Merger
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page A-
-------
<C> <S> <C>
Section V.4 Authority; Non-Contravention; Statutory Approvals;
Compliance........................................... 16
Section V.5 Reports and Financial Statements...................... 17
Section V.6 Absence of Certain Changes or Events.................. 17
Section V.7 Registration Statement and Proxy Statement............ 17
Section V.8 Employee Matters; ERISA............................... 18
Section V.9 Regulation as a Utility............................... 18
Section V.10 Vote Required......................................... 18
Section V.11 [intentionally omitted]............................... 18
Section V.12 Opinion of Financial Advisor.......................... 18
Section V.13 Ownership of DRI Common Stock......................... 18
Section V.14 CNG Rights Agreement.................................. 18
Section V.15 Anti-Takeover Provisions.............................. 19
Section V.16 Environmental Protection.............................. 19
Section V.17 Trading Position Risk Management...................... 19
Section V.18 Litigation............................................ 19
Section V.19 Rejection of Columbia Proposal........................ 19
ARTICLE VI
Conduct of Business Pending the Mergers............................. 19
Section VI.1 Ordinary Course of Business........................... 20
Section VI.2 Dividends............................................. 20
Section VI.3 Issuance of Securities................................ 20
Section VI.4 Charter Documents..................................... 20
Section VI.5 Acquisitions.......................................... 20
Section VI.6 No Dispositions....................................... 21
Section VI.7 Indebtedness.......................................... 21
Section VI.8 Capital Expenditures.................................. 21
Section VI.9 Compensation, Benefits................................ 21
Section VI.10 1935 Act.............................................. 22
Section VI.11 Accounting............................................ 22
Section VI.12 [intentionally omitted]............................... 22
Section VI.13 Tax-Free Status....................................... 22
Section VI.14 Discharge of Liabilities.............................. 22
Section VI.15 Cooperation, Notification............................. 22
Section VI.16 Rate Matters.......................................... 22
Section VI.17 Third-Party Consents.................................. 22
Section VI.18 No Breach, Etc........................................ 23
Section VI.19 Tax-Exempt Status..................................... 23
Section VI.20 Transition Management................................. 23
Section VI.21 Insurance............................................. 23
Section VI.22 Permits............................................... 23
ARTICLE VII
Additional Agreements............................................... 23
Section VII.1 Access to Information................................. 23
Section VII.2 Joint Proxy Statement and Registration Statement...... 23
Section VII.3 Regulatory Matters.................................... 24
Section VII.4 Shareholder Approvals................................. 24
Section VII.5 Directors' and Officers' Indemnification.............. 25
</TABLE>
ii
<PAGE>
Annex A--Agreement and Plan of Merger
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page A-
-------
<C> <S> <C>
Section VII.6 Disclosure Schedules................................. 26
Section VII.7 Public Announcements................................. 26
Section VII.8 Rule 145 Affiliates.................................. 26
Section VII.9 Certain Employee Agreements.......................... 26
Section VII.10 Incentive, Stock and Other Plans..................... 27
Section VII.11 No Solicitations..................................... 27
Section VII.12 DRI Board of Directors............................... 28
Section VII.13 Corporate Offices.................................... 28
Section VII.14 Expenses............................................. 28
Section VII.15 Community Support.................................... 28
Section VII.16 Further Assurances................................... 28
ARTICLE VIII
Conditions.......................................................... 29
Section VIII.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the
Mergers............................................. 29
Section VIII.2 Conditions to Obligation of CNG to Effect the Second
Merger.............................................. 29
Section VIII.3 Conditions to Obligation of DRI to Effect the
Mergers............................................. 30
ARTICLE IX
Termination, Amendment and Waiver................................... 30
Section IX.1 Termination.......................................... 30
Section IX.2 Effect of Termination................................ 32
Section IX.3 Termination Fee; Expenses............................ 33
Section IX.4 Amendment............................................ 34
Section IX.5 Waiver............................................... 34
ARTICLE X
General Provisions.................................................. 34
Section X.1 Non-Survival of Representations, Warranties,
Covenants and Agreements............................ 34
Section X.2 Brokers.............................................. 35
Section X.3 Notices.............................................. 35
Section X.4 Miscellaneous........................................ 36
Section X.5 Interpretation....................................... 36
Section X.6 Counterparts; Effect................................. 36
Section X.7 Parties in Interest.................................. 36
Section X.8 Specific Performance................................. 36
Section X.9 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL................................. 36
</TABLE>
iii
<PAGE>
Annex A--Agreement and Plan of Merger
AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of May 11, 1999
(this "Agreement"), by and among DOMINION RESOURCES, INC., a corporation
organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia ("DRI") and
CONSOLIDATED NATURAL GAS COMPANY, a corporation organized under the laws of the
State of Delaware ("CNG").
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of DRI has approved this Agreement and the
merger of New Sub I (as defined below) with and into DRI, with DRI as the
surviving corporation (the "First Merger"), and the Boards of Directors of DRI
and CNG have approved this Agreement and the merger of CNG with and into New
Sub II (as defined below), with New Sub II as the surviving corporation (the
"Second Merger," and together with the First Merger, the "Mergers");
WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of DRI and CNG have also approved an
alternative "Second Merger" pursuant to which CNG would be merged with and into
DRI under certain circumstances as set forth in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, for federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the Second
Merger shall qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and this
Agreement is intended to be and is adopted as a plan of reorganization for
purposes of Section 368 of the Code.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto,
intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
The Merger
Section I.1 The Mergers. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement:
(a) To effectuate the transactions contemplated herein, upon receipt of any
required approvals, DRI shall cause the organization of DRI New Sub I, Inc., a
Virginia corporation ("New Sub I") and DRI New Sub II, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("New Sub II"), the incorporation documents and bylaws of which
shall be in such forms as shall be determined by DRI and the authorized capital
stock of which shall each initially consist of 100 shares of common stock with
no par value, which shall be issued to DRI at a price of $1.00 per share. In
connection with the organization of New Sub I and New Sub II, as soon as
practicable following the creation of the merger subsidiaries, DRI shall: (a)
designate the respective directors and officers of New Sub I and New Sub II,
(b) cause the directors and officers of New Sub I and New Sub II to take such
steps as may be necessary or appropriate to complete the organization of such
Subsidiaries, (c) cause the Agreement to be approved and executed by New Sub I
and New Sub II, (d) adopt (as sole shareholder of Subsidiary) the Agreement,
and (e) cause each of New Sub I and New Sub II to perform its obligations under
the Agreement. Upon the approval and execution of this Agreement by each of New
Sub I and New Sub II as described in the preceding sentence, each such merger
Subsidiary will become a party to this Agreement.
(b) At the Effective Time of the First Merger (as defined in Section 1.3),
New Sub I will be merged with and into DRI, in accordance with the Virginia
Stock Corporation Act ("VSCA"). DRI will be the surviving corporation in the
First Merger and will continue its corporate existence under the laws of the
State of Virginia. The effects and the consequences of the First Merger are set
forth in Section 1.4(a). Throughout this Agreement, the term "DRI" refers to
DRI prior to the First Merger or to DRI as the surviving corporation in the
First Merger, as the context requires.
(c) At the Effective Time of the Second Merger (as defined in Section 1.3),
CNG will be merged with and into New Sub II in accordance with the Delaware
General Corporation Law ("DGCL"). New Sub II will be
A-1
<PAGE>
Annex A--Agreement and Plan of Merger
the surviving corporation in the Second Merger (the "Surviving Corporation")
and shall succeed to and assume all the rights and obligations of CNG in
accordance with the DGCL. The effects and the consequences of the Second Merger
are set forth in Section 1.4(b).
Section I.2 Alternative Merger. At the election of DRI, after consultation
with CNG, in lieu of the Second Merger described in Section 1.1 and pursuant to
the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, at the Effective
Time of the Second Merger (as defined in Section 1.3), CNG shall be merged into
DRI in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the State
of Delaware. DRI shall be the surviving corporation in the Merger and shall
continue its existence under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and
references herein to "Surviving Corporation" shall be deemed to refer to DRI.
The effects and consequences of the Merger shall be as set forth in this
Agreement and in Section 13.1-721 of the VSCA.
Section I.3 Effective Time of the Mergers. On the Closing Date (as defined in
Section 3.1) (a) articles of merger complying with the requirements of the
relevant provisions of the VCSA shall be executed and filed with the Clerk of
the State Corporation Commission of the State of Virginia with respect to the
First Merger and (b) a certificate of merger complying with the requirements of
the relevant provisions of the DGCL shall be executed and filed with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware with respect to the Second Merger.
The First Merger shall become effective upon issuance of the certificate of
merger relating thereto or upon such later time as is agreed upon by the
parties and specified in such articles of merger (the "Effective Time of the
First Merger"). The Second Merger shall become effective upon filing the
certificate of merger relating thereto or upon such later date as is agreed
upon by the parties and specified in such certificate of merger (the "Effective
Time of the Second Merger"); provided, that the Effective Time of the First
Merger will occur immediately prior to the Effective Time of the Second Merger
(it being understood that the First Merger will not be effected unless and
until all of the conditions to the Second Merger have been satisfied or waived
and the parties hereto are prepared to consummate the Second Merger). In the
event the parties effect the Alternative Merger, on the Closing Date articles
of merger complying with the requirements of the VCSA and a certificate of
merger complying with the requirements of the DGCL in forms acceptable to DRI
and CNG shall be filed with the respective offices outlined above and the
Alternative Merger shall become effective upon the completion of the filings
under the VCSA and the DGCL. In the event the parties effect the Alternative
Merger, the references herein to "Second Merger" and "Effective Time of the
Second Merger" shall refer to the Alternative Merger and the effective time of
such Alternative Merger, respectively.
Section I.4 Effects of the Merger. (a) At the Effective Time of the First
Merger, (i) the articles of incorporation of DRI, as in effect immediately
prior to the First Merger, will be the articles of incorporation of DRI, as the
surviving corporation in the First Merger, until thereafter amended as provided
by law and such articles of incorporation, and (ii) the bylaws of DRI, as in
effect immediately prior to the First Merger, will be the bylaws of DRI, as the
surviving corporation in the First Merger, until thereafter amended as provided
by law, the articles of incorporation of DRI and such bylaws. Subject to the
foregoing, the additional effects of the First Merger shall be as provided in
the applicable provisions of the VSCA and the DGCL.
(b) At the Effective Time of the Second Merger (other than the Alternative
Merger), (i) the certificate of incorporation of New Sub II, as in effect
immediately prior to the Second Merger will be the certificate of incorporation
of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended as provided by law and
such certificate of incorporation, and (ii) the by-laws of New Sub II, as in
effect immediately prior to the Second Merger, shall be the bylaws of the
Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended as provided by law, the
certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation and such bylaws.
Subject to the foregoing, the additional effects of the Second Merger shall be
as provided in the applicable provisions of the DGCL.
(c) In the event the parties effect the Alternative Merger, at the Effective
Time of the Second Merger, (i) the articles of incorporation of DRI, as in
effect immediately prior to the Second Merger will be the certificate of
incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended as provided
by law and such certificate of incorporation, and (ii) the by-laws of DRI, as
in effect immediately prior to the Second Merger, shall be the bylaws of the
Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended as provided by law, the
certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation and such bylaws.
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Annex A--Agreement and Plan of Merger
ARTICLE II
Treatment of Shares
Section II.1 Effect on the Capital Stock of DRI. As of the Effective Time of
the First Merger, by virtue of the First Merger and without any action on the
part of any holder of DRI Common Stock (as hereinafter defined):
(a) Cancellation of New Sub I Shares. Each share of common stock, without
par value, of New Sub I issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time of the First Merger will automatically be canceled and
retired and will cease to exist, and no consideration will be delivered in
exchange therefor.
(b) Cancellation of DRI Treasury Stock. Each share of common stock,
without par value, of DRI ("DRI Common Stock") that is owned by DRI or by
CNG or any wholly-owned subsidiary of CNG will automatically be canceled
and retired and will cease to exist, and no consideration will be delivered
in exchange therefor.
(c) Conversion of DRI Common Stock. Subject to the provisions of Section
2.3(d) hereof, each issued and outstanding share of DRI Common Stock (other
than shares of DRI Common Stock to be canceled in accordance with Section
2.1(b)) will be converted into either (X) $43.00 in cash (the "DRI Cash
Consideration") or (Y) 1.0 (the "DRI Exchange Ratio") fully paid and non-
assessable shares of DRI Common Stock (the "DRI Stock Consideration" and,
together with the DRI Cash Consideration, the "DRI Merger Consideration"),
in each case as the holder thereof shall have elected or be deemed to have
elected, in accordance with Section 2.1(e).
(d) Allocation. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, the aggregate amount of cash to be issued to shareholders of DRI
as consideration in the First Merger shall be equal to $1,251,055,526 (the
"DRI Cash Amount"); provided that, the DRI Cash Amount may be increased by
DRI to an amount no greater than $1,668,400,000 in order to accommodate the
exercise by DRI of its option to change the DRI Cash Number and the DRI
Stock Number pursuant to the last sentence of this Section 2.1(d). As used
in this Agreement, the "DRI Cash Number" shall mean the aggregate number of
shares of DRI Common Stock to be converted into the right to receive the
DRI Cash Consideration in the First Merger, which will be equal to the DRI
Cash Amount divided by $43.00. The number of shares of DRI Common Stock to
be converted into the right to receive DRI Stock Consideration in the First
Merger (the "DRI Stock Number") will be equal to (x) the number of shares
of DRI Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time of the First Merger (ignoring for this purpose any DRI
Common Stock held as treasury shares and canceled pursuant to Section
2.1(b)) less (y) the sum of (A) the DRI Cash Number and (B) the aggregate
number of shares of DRI Common Stock to be exchanged for cash pursuant to
Section 2.3(d). DRI will have the option to change the DRI Cash Number and
the DRI Stock Number to more closely follow the actual elections of DRI
shareholders pursuant to this Section 2.1, so long as such modification to
the DRI Cash Number and the DRI Stock Number does not prevent the
conditions set forth in Sections 8.2(e) and 8.3(e) from being satisfied.
(e) Election. Subject to allocation in accordance with the provisions of
this Section 2.1, each record holder of shares of DRI Common Stock (other
than shares to be canceled in accordance with Section 2.1(b)) issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Election Deadline (as defined in
Section 2.3(b)(i)) will be entitled, in accordance with Section 2.3(b), (i)
to elect to receive in respect of each such share (A) DRI Cash
Consideration (a "DRI Cash Election") or (B) DRI Stock Consideration (a
"DRI Stock Election") or (ii) to indicate that such record holder has no
preference as to the receipt of DRI Cash Consideration or DRI Stock
Consideration for all such shares held by such holder (a "DRI Non-
Election"). Shares of DRI Common Stock in respect of which a DRI Non-
Election is made or as to which no election is made (collectively, "DRI
Non-Election Shares") shall be deemed by DRI to be shares in respect of
which DRI Cash Elections or DRI Stock Elections have been made, as DRI
shall determine.
(f) Allocation of DRI Cash Election Shares. In the event that the
aggregate number of shares in respect of which DRI Cash Elections have been
made (the "DRI Cash Election Shares") exceeds the DRI
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Annex A--Agreement and Plan of Merger
Cash Number, all shares of DRI Common Stock in respect of which DRI Stock
Elections have been made (the "DRI Stock Election Shares") and all DRI Non-
Election Shares will be converted into the right to receive DRI Stock
Consideration (and cash in lieu of fractional interests in accordance with
Section 2.3(d)), and DRI Cash Election Shares will be converted into the
right to receive DRI Cash Consideration or DRI Stock Consideration in the
following manner:
(i) the number of DRI Cash Election Shares covered by each Form of
Election (as defined in Section 2.3(b)(i)) to be converted into DRI
Cash Consideration will be determined by multiplying the number of DRI
Cash Election Shares covered by such Form of Election by a fraction,
(A) the numerator of which is the DRI Cash Number and (B) the
denominator of which is the aggregate number of DRI Cash Election
Shares rounded down to the nearest whole number; and
(ii) all DRI Cash Election Shares not converted into DRI Cash
Consideration in accordance with Section 2.1(f)(i) will be converted
into the right to receive DRI Stock Consideration (and cash in lieu of
fractional interests in accordance with Section 2.3(d)).
(g) Allocation of DRI Stock Election Shares. In the event that the
aggregate number of DRI Stock Election Shares exceeds the DRI Stock Number,
all DRI Cash Election Shares and all DRI Non-Election Shares (together, the
"DRI Cash Shares") will be converted into the right to receive DRI Cash
Consideration, and all DRI Stock Election Shares will be converted into the
right to receive DRI Cash Consideration or DRI Stock Consideration in the
following manner:
(i) the number of DRI Stock Election Shares covered by each Form of
Election to be converted into DRI Cash Consideration will be determined
by multiplying the number of DRI Stock Election Shares covered by such
Form of Election by a fraction, (A) the numerator of which is the DRI
Cash Number less the number of DRI Cash Shares and (B) the denominator
of which is the aggregate number of DRI Stock Election Shares, rounded
down to the nearest whole number; and
(ii) all DRI Stock Election Shares not converted into DRI Cash
Consideration in accordance with Section 2.1(g)(i) will be converted
into the right to receive DRI Stock Consideration (and cash in lieu of
fractional interests in accordance with Section 2.3(d)).
(h) No Allocation. In the event that neither Section 2.1(f) nor Section
2.1(g) is applicable, all DRI Cash Election Shares will be converted into
the right to receive DRI Cash Consideration, all DRI Stock Election Shares
will be converted into the right to receive DRI Stock Consideration (and
cash in lieu of fractional interests in accordance with Section 2.3(d)) and
DRI Non-Election Shares will be converted into the right to receive DRI
Cash Consideration or DRI Stock Consideration (and cash in lieu of
fractional interests in accordance with Section 2.3(d)) as DRI shall
determine.
(i) Computations. The Exchange Agent (as defined in Section 2.3(a)), in
consultation with DRI, will make all computations to give effect to this
Section 2.1.
(j) Cancellation of Shares. As of the Effective Time of the First Merger,
all such shares of DRI Common Stock will no longer be outstanding and
automatically be cancelled and retire and will cease to exist and each
holder of a certificate formerly representing any such shares of DRI Common
Stock (a "DRI Certificate") will cease to have any rights with respect
thereto, except the right to receive DRI Merger Consideration and any
additional cash in lieu of fractional shares of DRI Common Stock to be
issued or paid in consideration therefor upon surrender of such DRI
Certificate in accordance with Section 2.3, without interest.
Section II.2 Effect on the Capital Stock of CNG of the Second Merger. As of
the Effective Time of the Second Merger, by virtue of the Second Merger and
without any action on the part of any holder of CNG Common Stock (as
hereinafter defined):
(a) Conversion of New Sub II Shares. Each share of common stock, without
par value, of New Sub II issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time of the Second Merger will remain outstanding unaffected by
the Second Merger, with the result that the Surviving Corporation will
remain a wholly-owned subsidiary of DRI.
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Annex A--Agreement and Plan of Merger
(b) Cancellation of CNG Treasury Stock. Each share of common stock, par
value $2.75 per share, of CNG (the "CNG Common Stock"), together with the
associated CNG Rights (as defined in Section 5.14), that is owned by CNG or
by DRI or any wholly-owned subsidiary of DRI, will automatically be
canceled and retired and cease to exist, and no consideration will be
delivered in exchange therefor. Throughout this Agreement, the term CNG
Common Stock refers to CNG Common Stock together with the associated CNG
Rights.
(c) Conversion of CNG Common Stock. Subject to the provisions of Section
2.3(d) hereof, each issued and outstanding share of CNG Common Stock (other
than shares of CNG Common Stock canceled in accordance with Section 2.2(b)
and subject to dissenter's rights under the DGCL) will be converted into
(x) $66.60 in cash (the "CNG Cash Consideration") or (y)(1) a number of
fully paid, non-assessable shares of DRI Common Stock equal to the CNG
Exchange Ratio (as defined below) plus (2) an amount in cash (the "Stock
Election Top-Up Amount") equal to 1.52 times the excess, if any, of $43.816
over the DRI Average Price (the "CNG Stock Consideration" and together with
the CNG Cash Consideration, the "CNG Merger Consideration"). The "CNG
Exchange Ratio" shall be equal to (i) $66.60 divided by the Average Price
of DRI Common Stock, if the DRI Average Price is no less than $43.816 and
(ii) 1.52, if the DRI Average Price is less than $43.816, in which case
top-up cash shall be provided pursuant to clause (y)(2) above. "DRI Average
Price" means the average of the closing prices of the DRI Common Stock on
the New York Stock Exchange for the 20 consecutive Trading Days in the
period ending five Trading Days prior to the Election Deadline. "Trading
Day" means a day on which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. is open for
trading.
(d) Allocation. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary (other than Section 2.2(j)), the number of shares of CNG Common
Stock to be converted into the right to receive the CNG Cash Consideration
in the Second Merger (the "CNG Cash Number") will be equal to (i)
38,159,060 shares of CNG Common Stock less (ii) the aggregate number of
shares of CNG Common Stock to be exchanged for cash pursuant to Section
2.3(d). The number of shares of CNG Common Stock to be converted into the
right to receive the CNG Stock Consideration in the Second Merger (the "CNG
Stock Number") will be equal to (i) the number of shares of CNG Common
Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time of the
Second Merger (ignoring for this purpose any CNG Common Stock held as
treasury shares and canceled pursuant to Section 2.2(b)) less (ii) the sum
of (A) the CNG Cash Number and (B) the aggregate number of shares of CNG
Common Stock to be exchanged for cash pursuant to Section 2.3(d).
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, DRI will have the option
to change the CNG Cash Number and the CNG Stock Number to more closely
follow the actual elections of CNG shareholders pursuant to this Section
2.2, so long as such modification to the CNG Cash Number and the CNG Stock
Number does not prevent the conditions set forth in Sections 8.2(e) and
8.3(e) from being satisfied.
(e) Election. Subject to allocation in accordance with the provisions of
this Section 2.2, each record holder of shares of CNG Common Stock (other
than shares to be canceled in accordance with Section 2.2(b)) issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Election Deadline (as defined in
Section 2.3(b)(i)) will be entitled, in accordance with Section 2.3(b), (i)
to elect to receive in respect of each such share (A) CNG Cash
Consideration (a "CNG Cash Election") or (B) CNG Stock Consideration
(including the Stock Election Top-Up Amount, if any) (a "CNG Stock
Election") or (ii) to indicate that such record holder has no preference as
to the receipt of CNG Cash Consideration or CNG Stock Consideration for all
such shares held by such holder (a "CNG Non-Election"). Shares of CNG
Common Stock in respect of which a CNG Non-Election is made or as to which
no election is made (collectively, "CNG Non-Election Shares") shall be
deemed by DRI to be shares in respect of which CNG Cash Elections or CNG
Stock Elections have been made, as DRI shall determine in its sole
discretion.
(f) Allocation of CNG Cash Election Shares. In the event that the
aggregate number of shares in respect of which CNG Cash Elections have been
made (the "CNG Cash Election Shares") exceeds the CNG Cash Number, all
shares of CNG Common Stock in respect of which CNG Stock Elections have
been made (the "CNG Stock Election Shares") and all CNG Non-Election Shares
will be converted into the right to receive CNG Stock Consideration
(including the Stock Election Top-Up Amount, if any, and cash in lieu of
fractional interests in accordance with Section 2.3(d)), and CNG Cash
Election Shares will
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Annex A--Agreement and Plan of Merger
be converted into the right to receive CNG Cash Consideration or CNG Stock
Consideration in the following manner:
(i) the number of CNG Cash Election Shares covered by each Form of
Election (as defined in Section 2.3(b)(i)) to be converted into CNG
Cash Consideration will be determined by multiplying the number of CNG
Cash Election Shares covered by such Form of Election by a fraction,
(A) the numerator of which is the CNG Cash Number and (B) the
denominator of which is the aggregate number of CNG Cash Election
Shares rounded down to the nearest whole number; and
(ii) all CNG Cash Election Shares not converted into CNG Cash
Consideration in accordance with Section 2.2(f)(i) will be converted
into the right to receive CNG Stock Consideration (including the Stock
Election Top-Up Amount, if any, and cash in lieu of fractional
interests in accordance with Section 2.3(d)).
(g) Allocation of CNG Stock Election Shares. In the event that the
aggregate number of CNG Stock Election Shares exceeds the CNG Stock Number,
all CNG Cash Election Shares and all CNG Non-Election Shares (together, the
"CNG Cash Shares") will be converted into the right to receive CNG Cash
Consideration, and all CNG Stock Election Shares will be converted into the
right to receive CNG Cash Consideration or CNG Stock Consideration in the
following manner:
(i) the number of CNG Stock Election Shares covered by each Form of
Election to be converted into CNG Cash Consideration will be determined
by multiplying the number of CNG Stock Election Shares covered by such
Form of Election by a fraction, (A) the numerator of which is the CNG
Cash Number less the number of CNG Cash Shares and (B) the denominator
of which is the aggregate number of CNG Stock Election Shares, rounded
down to the nearest whole number; and
(ii) all CNG Stock Election Shares not converted into CNG Cash
Consideration in accordance with Section 2.2(g)(i) will be converted
into the right to receive CNG Stock Consideration (including the Stock
Election Top-Up Amount, if any, and cash in lieu of fractional
interests in accordance with Section 2.3(d)).
(h) No Allocation. In the event that neither Section 2.2(f) nor Section
2.2(g) is applicable, all CNG Cash Election Shares will be converted into
the right to receive CNG Cash Consideration, all CNG Stock Election Shares
will be converted into the right to receive CNG Stock Consideration
(including the Stock Election Top-Up Amount, if any, and cash in lieu of
fractional interests in accordance with Section 2.3(d)) and CNG Non-
Election Shares will be converted into the right to receive CNG Cash
Consideration or CNG Stock Consideration (including the Stock Election Top-
Up Amount, if any, and cash in lieu of fractional interests in accordance
with Section 2.3(d)) as DRI shall determine.
(i) Computations. The Exchange Agent, in consultation with DRI and CNG,
will make all computations to give effect to this Section 2.2.
(j) Adjustment Per Tax Opinion. If, after having made the calculation
under Section 2.2(d) or (h) (without giving effect to any subtraction
permitted by this Section 2.2(j)), the tax opinions referred to in Sections
8.2(e) and 8.3(e) (the "Tax Opinions") cannot be rendered (as reasonably
determined by ST&B or CG&R), as a result of the Second Merger possibly
failing to satisfy continuity-of-interest requirements under applicable
federal income tax principles relating to reorganizations described in the
Code, then DRI shall reduce, to the minimum extent necessary to enable the
Tax Opinions to be rendered, the amount of cash to be delivered with
respect to the CNG Cash Election Shares or with respect to the Stock
Election Top-Up Amount, as the case may be, and in lieu thereof shall
deliver the number of shares of DRI Common Stock having an aggregate value,
based on the DRI Average Price, equal to the amount of such reduction, and
if shares of DRI Common Stock are delivered with respect to the CNG Cash
Election Shares, DRI shall make the appropriate adjustments to the CNG Cash
Number to give effect to such reduction.
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Annex A--Agreement and Plan of Merger
Section II.3 Exchange of Certificates.
(a) Exchange Agent. As of the Effective Time of the First Merger, DRI will
enter into an agreement with such bank or trust as may be designated by DRI,
with the prior consent of CNG (the "Exchange Agent"), which will provide that
DRI will deposit with the Exchange Agent as of the Effective Time of the First
Merger, for the benefit of the holders of shares of DRI Common Stock and CNG
Common Stock for exchange in accordance with this Article II, through the
Exchange Agent, cash equal to the sum of the total aggregate DRI Cash
Consideration and CNG Cash Consideration and certificates representing the
shares of DRI Common Stock (such cash and such shares of DRI Common Stock,
together with any dividends or distributions with respect thereto with a record
date after the Effective Time of the Second Merger and any cash payable in lieu
of any fractional shares of DRI Common Stock, being hereinafter referred to as
the "Exchange Fund") issued pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 in exchange for
outstanding shares of DRI Common Stock and CNG Common Stock, as the case may
be.
(b) Exchange Procedures.
(i) Not more than 90 days nor fewer than 30 days prior to the anticipated
Closing Date as determined by DRI and CNG, the Exchange Agent will mail a form
of election (the "Form of Election") to holders of record of shares of DRI
Common Stock and to the holders of record of shares of CNG Common Stock (as of
a record date as close as practicable to the date of mailing and mutually
agreed to by CNG and DRI). In addition, the Exchange Agent will use its best
efforts to make the Form of Election available to the persons (as defined in
Section 2.3(f)) who become shareholders of DRI or CNG during the period between
such record date and the Closing Date. Any election to receive DRI Merger
Consideration contemplated by Section 2.1(e) or CNG Merger Consideration
contemplated by Section 2.2(e) will have been properly made only if the
Exchange Agent shall have received at its designated office or offices, by 5:00
p.m., New York City time, on the fifth business day immediately preceding the
Closing Date (the "Election Deadline"), a Form of Election properly completed
and accompanied by a DRI Certificate or a CNG Certificate, as the case may be
(together or as applicable, "Certificate(s)") for the shares to which such Form
of Election relates, duly endorsed in blank or otherwise acceptable for
transfer on the books of DRI or CNG, as the case may be (or an appropriate
guarantee of delivery), as set forth in such Form of Election. An election may
be revoked only by written notice received by the Exchange Agent prior to 5:00
p.m., New York City time, on the Election Deadline. In addition, all elections
shall automatically be revoked if the Exchange Agent is notified in writing by
DRI and CNG that either of the Mergers has been abandoned. If an election is so
revoked, the Certificate(s) (or guarantee of delivery, as appropriate) to which
such election relates will be promptly returned to the person submitting the
same to the Exchange Agent. DRI shall have the discretion, which it may
delegate in whole or in part to the Exchange Agent, to determine whether Forms
of Election have been properly completed, signed and submitted or revoked
pursuant to this Article II, and to disregard immaterial defects in Forms of
Election. The decision of DRI (or the Exchange Agent) in such matters shall be
conclusive and binding.
(ii) As soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time of the First
Merger, with respect to the First Merger, and after the Effective Time of the
Second Merger, with respect to the Second Merger (together or as applicable,
the "Effective Time"), the Exchange Agent will mail to each holder of record of
a Certificate, whose shares of DRI Common Stock or CNG Common Stock
(collectively, the "Shares") were converted into the right to receive DRI
Merger Consideration or CNG Merger Consideration (together, the "Merger
Consideration") and who failed to return a properly completed Form of Election,
(i) a letter of transmittal (which will specify that delivery will be effected,
and risk of loss and title to the Certificates will pass, only upon delivery of
the Certificates to the Exchange Agent and will be in such form and have such
other provisions as DRI and CNG may specify consistent with this Agreement) and
(ii) instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in
exchange for the Merger Consideration.
(iii) At the Effective Time, with respect to properly made elections in
accordance with Section 2.3(b)(i), and upon surrender in accordance with
Section 2.3(b)(ii) of a Certificate for cancellation to the Exchange Agent or
to such other agent or agents as may be appointed by DRI and CNG, together with
such letter of transmittal, duly executed, and such other documents as may
reasonably be required by the Exchange Agent, the holder of
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Annex A--Agreement and Plan of Merger
such Certificate will be entitled to receive in exchange therefor the Merger
Consideration that such holder has the right to receive pursuant to the
provisions of this Article II, and the Certificate so surrendered will
forthwith be canceled. In the event of a transfer of ownership of Shares that
are not registered in the transfer records of DRI or CNG, as the case may be,
payment may be issued to a person other than the person in whose name the
Certificate so surrendered is registered if such Certificate is properly
endorsed or otherwise in proper form for transfer and the person requesting
such issuance pays any transfer or other taxes required by reason of such
payment to a person other than the registered holder of such Certificate or
establishes to the satisfaction of DRI and CNG that such tax has been paid or
is not applicable. Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 2.3, each
Certificate will be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to represent
only the right to receive upon such surrender the Merger Consideration that the
holder thereof has the right to receive in respect of such Certificate pursuant
to the provisions of this Article II. No interest will be paid or will accrue
on any cash payable to holders of Certificates pursuant to the provisions of
this Article II.
(c) Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged Shares. No dividends or other
distributions with respect to the shares of DRI Common Stock with a record date
after the Effective Time shall be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered
Certificate with respect to the shares of DRI Common Stock represented thereby,
and no cash payment in lieu of any fractional shares shall be paid to any such
holder pursuant to Section 2.3(d), and all such dividends, other distributions
and cash in lieu of fractional shares of DRI Common Stock shall be paid by DRI
to the Exchange Agent and shall be included in the Exchange Fund, in each case
until the surrender of such Certificate in accordance with this Article II.
Subject to the effect of unclaimed property, escheat and other applicable laws,
following surrender of any such Certificate, there shall be paid to the holder
of the Certificate representing whole shares of DRI Common Stock issued in
exchange therefor, without interest, (i) at the time of such surrender, the
amount of any cash payable in lieu of a fractional share of DRI Common Stock to
which such holder is entitled pursuant to Section 2.3(d), the amount of any
cash payable pursuant to the Stock Election Top-Up Amount, if applicable, and
the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the
Effective Time theretofore paid with respect to such whole shares of DRI Common
Stock and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the amount of dividends or
other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time but prior to
such surrender and with a payment date subsequent to such surrender payable
with respect to such whole shares of DRI Common Stock. DRI shall make available
to the Exchange Agent cash for the foregoing purposes.
(d) No Fractional Securities. No DRI Certificates or scrip representing
fractional shares of DRI Common Stock shall be issued upon the surrender for
exchange of Certificates, and such fractional shares shall not entitle the
owner thereof to vote or to any other rights of a holder of DRI Common Stock. A
holder of Shares converted in the Mergers who would otherwise have been
entitled to a fractional share of DRI Common Stock shall be entitled to receive
a cash payment (without interest) in lieu of such fractional share in an amount
determined by multiplying (i) the fractional share interest to which such
holder would otherwise be entitled by (ii) the closing price per share of DRI
Common Stock as reported on the NYSE Composite Transaction Tape on the Closing
Date.
(e) No Further Ownership Rights in CNG Common Stock. All shares of DRI Common
Stock issued upon the surrender for exchange of Certificates in accordance with
the terms of this Article II (including any cash paid pursuant to this Article
II) shall be deemed to have been issued (and paid) in full satisfaction of all
rights pertaining to the Shares theretofore represented by such Certificates,
subject, however, to any obligation of DRI or the Surviving Corporation to pay
any dividends or make any other distributions with a record date prior to the
Effective Time which may have been authorized or made with respect to shares of
CNG Common Stock or DRI Common Stock, as the case may be, which remain unpaid
at the Effective Time, and there shall be no further registration of transfers
on the stock transfer books of (i) DRI of shares of DRI Common Stock which were
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time or (ii) the Surviving
Corporation of shares of CNG Common Stock which were outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are
presented to DRI, the Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent for any
reason, they shall be cancelled and exchanged as provided in this Section 2.3,
except as otherwise provided by law.
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Annex A--Agreement and Plan of Merger
(f) Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund which
remains undistributed to the holders of the Certificates for six months after
the Effective Time shall be delivered by the Exchange Agent to DRI, and any
holders of the Certificates who have not theretofore complied with this Article
II shall thereafter look only to DRI for payment of their claim for such DRI
Shares or funds to which such holder may be due, subject to applicable law.
None of DRI, CNG, the Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent shall be
liable to any person (as defined below) in respect of any such DRI Shares or
funds from the Exchange Fund delivered to a public official pursuant to any
applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law. As used in this
Agreement, the term "person" shall mean any natural person, corporation,
general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture,
trust, association or entity of any kind.
(g) Investment of Exchange Fund. The Exchange Agent will invest any cash
included in the Exchange Fund, as directed by DRI, with the prior consent of
CNG, on a daily basis. Any interest and other income resulting from such
investments will be paid to DRI.
(h) Lost Certificates. If any Certificate is lost, stolen or destroyed, upon
the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming such Certificate
to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by DRI or the Surviving
Corporation, as the case may be, the posting by such person of a bond in such
reasonable amount as DRI or the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, may
direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect
to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent will issue in exchange for such lost,
stolen or destroyed Certificate the Merger Consideration and, if applicable,
any cash in lieu of fractional shares, and unpaid dividends and distributions
on shares of DRI Common Stock, pursuant to this Agreement.
(i) Certain Adjustments. If, after the date hereof and on or prior to the
Closing Date, the outstanding shares of DRI Common Stock or CNG Common Stock
shall be changed into a different number of shares by reason of any
reclassification, recapitalization, split-up, combination or exchange of
shares, or any dividend payable in stock or other securities is declared
thereon with a record date within such period, or any similar event shall
occur, the Merger Consideration will be adjusted accordingly to provide to the
holders of DRI Common Stock and CNG Common Stock, respectively, the same
economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement prior to such
reclassification, recapitalization, split-up, combination, exchange or dividend
or similar event.
(j) Withholding Rights. Each of the Surviving Corporation and DRI shall be
entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable
pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of shares of DRI Common Stock or CNG
Common Stock such amounts as it is required to deduct and withhold with respect
to the making of such payment under the Code, or any provision of state, local
or foreign tax law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld by the Surviving
Corporation or DRI, as the case may be, such withheld amounts shall be treated
for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the
shares of DRI Common Stock or CNG Common Stock in respect of which such
deduction and withholding was made by the Surviving Corporation or DRI, as the
case may be.
Section II.4 Dissenting Shares. (a) Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary and subject to the applicability of Section 262 of
the DGCL to the Second Merger, shares of CNG Common Stock (as defined below)
that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time of the
Second Merger and which are held by stockholders who have not voted in favor of
or consented to the Second Merger and shall have delivered a written demand for
appraisal of such shares in the time and manner provided in Section 262 of the
DGCL and shall not have failed to perfect or shall not have effectively
withdrawn or lost their rights to appraisal and payment under the DGCL (the
"Dissenting Shares") shall not be converted into the right to receive the CNG
Merger Consideration, but shall be entitled to receive the consideration as
shall be determined pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL; provided, however,
that if any such holder shall have failed to perfect or shall have effectively
withdrawn or lost his, her or its right to appraisal and payment under the
DGCL, such holder's shares of CNG Common Stock shall thereupon be deemed to be
CNG Non-Election Shares and to have been converted, at the Effective Time of
the Second Merger, into the right to receive the CNG Merger Consideration set
forth in Section 2.2 of this Agreement, without any interest thereon.
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(b) The CNG shall give DRI (i) prompt notice of any demands for appraisal
pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL received by CNG, withdrawals of such
demands and any other instruments served pursuant to the DGCL and received by
CNG and (ii) the opportunity to direct all negotiations and proceedings with
respect to demands for appraisal under the DGCL. CNG shall not, except with the
prior written consent of DRI, make any payment with respect to any such demands
for appraisal or offer to settle or settle any such demands.
ARTICLE III
The Closing
Section III.1 Closing. The closing (the "Closing") of the Mergers shall take
place at the offices of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, 425 Lexington Avenue, New
York, New York 10017, or such other place as may be mutually agreed upon by the
parties hereto at 10:00 A.M., local time, on the second business day
immediately following the date on which the last of the conditions set forth in
Article VIII is fulfilled or waived, or at such other time and date as CNG and
DRI shall mutually agree (the "Closing Date").
ARTICLE IV
Representations and Warranties of DRI
Except as disclosed in the DRI SEC Reports (as defined in Section 4.5) filed
prior to the date hereof or as set forth on the Disclosure Schedule delivered
by DRI to CNG prior to the execution of this Agreement (the "DRI Disclosure
Schedule"), DRI represents and warrants to CNG as follows:
Section IV.1 Organization and Qualification. DRI and each of its Significant
Subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, has all requisite
corporate power and authority, to own, lease and operate its assets and
properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, and is
duly qualified and in good standing to do business in each jurisdiction in
which the nature of its business or the ownership or leasing of its assets and
properties makes such qualification necessary, other than in such jurisdictions
where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing will not, when taken
together with all other such failures, have a material adverse effect on the
business, operations, properties, assets, condition (financial or otherwise),
prospects or results of operations of DRI and its subsidiaries taken as a whole
or on the consummation of this Agreement (any such material adverse effect
being hereinafter referred to as a "DRI Material Adverse Effect"). True,
accurate and complete copies of the articles of incorporation and bylaws of
DRI, as in effect on the date hereof, have been delivered to CNG. As used in
this Agreement, the term "subsidiary" with respect to any person shall mean any
corporation or other entity (including partnerships and other business
associations) in which such person directly or indirectly owns outstanding
capital stock or other voting securities having the power, under ordinary
circumstances, to elect a majority of the directors or similar members of the
governing body of such corporation or other entity, or otherwise to direct the
management and policies of such corporation or other entity. As used in this
Agreement, a "Significant Subsidiary" means any subsidiary of DRI or CNG, as
the case may be, that constitutes a "significant subsidiary" of such party
within the meaning of Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X of the SEC.
Section IV.2 Subsidiaries. Exhibit 21 to the Annual Report of DRI on Form 10-
K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 includes all subsidiaries of DRI
which as of the date of this Agreement are Significant Subsidiaries. All the
outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other equity interests in, each such
Significant Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued and are
fully paid and nonassessable and are owned directly or indirectly by DRI, free
and clear of all pledges, claims, liens, charges, encumbrances and security
interests of any kind or nature whatsoever (collectively, "Liens"). None of the
subsidiaries of DRI is a "public utility company", a "holding company", a
"subsidiary company" or an "affiliate" of any public utility company within the
meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended (the
"1935 Act"). There are no outstanding subscriptions, options, calls, contracts,
voting trusts, proxies or other
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commitments, understandings, restrictions, arrangements, rights or warrants,
including any right of conversion or exchange under any outstanding security,
instrument or other agreement, obligating any Significant Subsidiary to issue,
deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, additional shares of
its capital stock or obligating it to grant, extend or enter into any such
agreement or commitment. As used in this Agreement, the term "joint venture"
with respect to any person shall mean any corporation or other entity
(including partnerships and other business associations and joint ventures) in
which such person or one or more of its subsidiaries owns an equity interest
that is less than a majority of any class of the outstanding voting securities
or equity, other than equity interests held for passive investment purposes
that are less than 5% of any class of the outstanding voting securities or
equity.
Section IV.3 Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of DRI consists of
300,000,000 shares of DRI Common Stock and 20,000,000 shares of preferred
stock. As of the close of business on January 31, 1999, 193,962,097 shares of
DRI Common Stock and no shares of preferred stock were issued and outstanding.
All of the issued and outstanding shares of the capital stock of DRI are
validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights. As of
the date hereof, there are no outstanding subscriptions, options, calls,
contracts, voting trusts, proxies or other commitments, understandings,
restrictions, arrangements, rights or warrants, including any right of
conversion or exchange under any outstanding security, instrument or other
agreement, obligating DRI or any of its subsidiaries to issue, deliver or sell,
or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, additional shares of the capital
stock or other voting securities of DRI or obligating DRI or any of its
subsidiaries to grant, extend or enter into any such agreement or commitment.
Section IV.4 Authority; Non-Contravention; Statutory Approvals; Compliance.
(a) Authority. DRI has all requisite power and authority to enter into this
Agreement and, subject to the DRI Shareholders' Approval (as defined in Section
4.10) and the DRI Required Statutory Approvals (as defined in Section 4.4(c)),
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The Board of Directors of
DRI has (a) determined that the Mergers are fair and in the best interest of
DRI and its shareholders, (b) approved and adopted this Agreement, and (c)
resolved to recommend to the holders of DRI Common Stock that they give the DRI
Shareholders' Approval. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation by DRI of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of DRI, subject to
obtaining the DRI Shareholders' Approval. This Agreement has been duly and
validly executed and delivered by DRI and, assuming the due authorization,
execution and delivery of this Agreement by CNG, constitutes the legal, valid
and binding obligation of DRI enforceable against DRI in accordance with its
terms.
(b) Non-Contravention. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by DRI do
not and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not,
violate, conflict with or result in a breach of any provision of, or constitute
a default (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) under, or result in
the termination of, or accelerate the performance required by, or result in a
right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any material obligation
under or the loss of a material benefit under, or result in the creation of any
Lien upon any of the properties or assets (any such violation, conflict,
breach, default, right of termination, cancellation or acceleration, loss or
creation being hereinafter referred to as a "Violation") by DRI or any of its
Significant Subsidiaries under any provisions of (i) the articles of
incorporation, bylaws or similar governing documents of DRI or any of its
Significant Subsidiaries, (ii) subject to obtaining the DRI Required Statutory
Approvals and the receipt of the DRI Shareholders' Approval, any statute, law,
ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, order, injunction, writ, permit
or license of any court, governmental or regulatory body (including a stock
exchange or other self-regulatory body) or authority, domestic or foreign
(each, a "Governmental Authority") applicable to DRI or any of its Significant
Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets, or (iii) subject
to obtaining the third-party consents or other approvals set forth in Section
4.4(b) of the DRI Disclosure Schedule (the "DRI Required Consents"), any note,
bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, franchise, permit,
concession, contract, lease or other instrument, obligation or agreement of any
kind to which DRI or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is now a party or by
which any of them or any of their respective properties or assets may be bound
or affected, excluding from the foregoing clauses (ii) and (iii) such
Violations as would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a DRI Material
Adverse Effect.
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(c) Statutory Approvals. No declaration, filing or registration with, or
notice to or authorization, consent, finding by or approval of, any
Governmental Authority is necessary for the execution and delivery of this
Agreement by DRI or the consummation by DRI of the transactions contemplated
hereby, which, if not obtained, made or given, would have, individually or in
the aggregate, a DRI Material Adverse Effect (the "DRI Required Statutory
Approvals"), it being understood that references in this Agreement to
"obtaining" such DRI Required Statutory Approvals shall mean making such
declarations, filings or registrations; giving such notice; obtaining such
consents or approvals; and having such waiting periods expire as are necessary
to avoid a violation of law.
(d) Compliance. Neither DRI nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the best
knowledge of DRI, any of its joint ventures, is in violation of or under
investigation with respect to, or has been given notice or been charged with
any violation of, any law, statute, order, rule, regulation, ordinance or
judgment (including, without limitation, any "Environmental Laws") of any
Governmental Authority, except for violations that, individually or in the
aggregate, do not have, and, to the best knowledge of DRI, are not reasonably
likely to have, a DRI Material Adverse Effect. DRI, its subsidiaries and, to
the best knowledge of DRI, its joint ventures have all permits, licenses,
franchises and other governmental authorizations, consents and approvals
necessary to conduct their respective businesses as currently conducted
(collectively, "Permits"), except those Permits the failure to obtain which
would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a DRI Material Adverse
Effect. As used in this Agreement, the term "Environmental Laws" means any law,
statute, order, rule, regulation, ordinance or judgment relating to pollution
or protection of human health or the environment (including, without
limitation, ambient air, indoor air, surface water, ground water, land surface
or subsurface strata and natural resources) including, without limitation,
those relating to the release or threatened release of Hazardous Materials or
to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage,
disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials. As used in this
Agreement, the term "Hazardous Materials" means chemicals, pollutants,
contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, materials or
constituents, petroleum or petroleum products or any other substances or
materials subject to regulation under Environmental Laws.
Section IV.5 Reports and Financial Statements. The filings required to be
made by DRI and its subsidiaries since January 1, 1996 under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), the Federal Power Act (the "Power Act"),
the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the "Atomic Energy Act"), the 1935
Act and applicable state laws and regulations have been filed with the SEC, the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (the "FERC"), the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (the "NRC") or the applicable state regulatory authorities, as the
case may be, including all forms, statements, reports, agreements (oral or
written) and all documents, exhibits, amendments and supplements appertaining
thereto, and complied in all material respects with all applicable requirements
of the appropriate act and the rules and regulations thereunder. DRI has made
available to CNG a true and complete copy of each report, schedule,
registration statement and definitive proxy statement filed by DRI with the SEC
under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act since January 1, 1996 and through
the date hereof (as such documents have since the time of their filing been
amended, the "DRI SEC Reports"). The DRI SEC Reports, including without
limitation any financial statements or schedules included therein, at the time
filed, and any forms, reports or other documents filed by DRI with the SEC
after the date hereof, did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. The audited consolidated financial
statements and unaudited interim financial statements of DRI included in the
DRI SEC Reports (collectively, the "DRI Financial Statements") have been
prepared, and will be prepared, in accordance with GAAP (except as may be
indicated therein or in the notes thereto and except with respect to unaudited
statements as permitted by Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act) and fairly present
the consolidated financial position of DRI as of the respective dates thereof
or the consolidated results of operations and cash flows for the respective
periods then ended, as the case may be, subject, in the case of the unaudited
interim financial statements, to normal, recurring audit adjustments.
Section IV.6 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. From September 30, 1998
through the date hereof, each of DRI and each of its subsidiaries has conducted
its business only in the ordinary course of business
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consistent with past practice and no event has occurred which has had, and no
fact or condition exists that would have or, to the best knowledge of DRI, is
reasonably likely to have, a DRI Material Adverse Effect.
Section IV.7 Registration Statement and Proxy Statement. None of the
information supplied or to be supplied by or on behalf of DRI for inclusion or
incorporation by reference in (i) the registration statement on Form S-4 to be
filed with the SEC by DRI in connection with the issuance of shares of DRI
Common Stock in the Mergers (the "Registration Statement") will, at the time
the Registration Statement becomes effective under the Securities Act, and as
the same may be amended, at the effective time of such amendment, contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, and (ii) the joint proxy in definitive form, relating to the
meetings of the shareholders of CNG and DRI to be held in connection with the
Mergers and the prospectus relating to DRI Common Stock to be issued in the
Mergers (the "Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus") will at the date such Joint
Proxy Statement/Prospectus is mailed to such shareholders and, as the same may
be amended or supplemented, at the times of such meetings, contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading. The Registration Statement and the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus will comply as to form in all material respects with the
provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder.
Section IV.8 Employee Matters; ERISA.
(a) Each "employee benefit plan" (as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA")), bonus, deferred
compensation, stock option, employment, severance, change in control or other
written agreement relating to employment, fringe benefits or perquisites for
current or former employees of DRI or any of its subsidiaries, maintained or
contributed to by DRI or any of its subsidiaries at any time during the seven-
calendar year period immediately preceding the date hereof (collectively, the
"DRI Employee Benefit Plans") is listed in Section 4.8(a) of the DRI Disclosure
Schedule.
(b) With respect to the DRI Employee Benefit Plans, individually and in the
aggregate, no event has occurred and, there exists no condition or set of
circumstances, in connection with which DRI or any of its subsidiaries could be
subject to any liability that is reasonably likely to have a DRI Material
Adverse Effect (except liability for benefits claims and funding obligations
payable in the ordinary course) under ERISA, the Code or any other applicable
law.
(c) Each DRI Employee Benefit Plan has been administered in accordance with
its terms, except for any failures to so administer any DRI Employee Benefit
Plans as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a DRI Material
Adverse Effect. DRI, its subsidiaries and all the DRI Employee Benefit Plans
are in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and all
other applicable laws and the terms of all applicable collective bargaining
agreements as they relate to the DRI Employee Benefit Plans, except for any
failures to be in such compliance as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a DRI Material Adverse Effect. Each DRI Employee Benefit Plan
which is intended to be qualified within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the
Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS and, to the
knowledge of DRI, no event has occurred and no condition exists which could
reasonably be expected to result in the revocation of any such determination.
(d) Except for all equity-based and other awards, the vesting and
exercisability of which will, by their terms, be accelerated as a result of the
transactions contemplated hereunder, no employee of DRI will be entitled to any
additional benefits or any acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of
any benefits under any DRI Employee Benefit Plan as a result of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section IV.9 Regulation as a Utility. Neither DRI nor any subsidiary company
or affiliate of DRI is subject to regulation as a public utility or public
service company (or similar designation) by any state in the United States, by
the United States or any agency or instrumentality of the United States or by
any foreign country. As used in this Section 4.9 and in Section 5.9, the terms
"subsidiary company" and "affiliate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to them in the 1935 Act.
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Section IV.10 Vote Required. (a) The approval of the Mergers by a majority of
all shares of DRI Common Stock represented at a duly called meeting of such
shareholders at which a quorum is present (the "DRI Shareholders' Approval") is
the only vote of the holders of any class or series of the capital stock of DRI
required to approve this Agreement, the Mergers and the other transactions
contemplated hereby.
(b) None of the shareholders of DRI are entitled to exercise any appraisal
rights in connection with the DRI Shareholders Approval.
Section IV.11 [intentionally omitted].
Section IV.12 Opinion of Financial Advisor. DRI has received the opinion of
Lehman Brothers Inc., dated the date hereof, to the effect that, as of the date
hereof, the Merger Consideration (taken as a whole) is fair from a financial
point of view to the holders of DRI Common Stock.
Section IV.13 Ownership of CNG Common Stock. DRI does not "beneficially own"
(as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) any shares of
CNG Common Stock.
Section IV.14 Anti-Takeover Provisions. None of the business combination
provisions of Article 13.1 of Chapter 9 of the VSCA or any similar provisions
of the VSCA or the articles of incorporation or bylaws of DRI are applicable to
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No other "fair price,"
"moratorium," "control share acquisition" or similar anti-takeover statute or
regulation is applicable to DRI, the Mergers or any other transaction
contemplated hereby.
Section IV.15 Nuclear Operations. To the knowledge of DRI, the operations of
DRI's and its subsidiaries' nuclear generating stations are and have at all
times been conducted in compliance with applicable health, safety, regulatory
and other legal requirements, except for those requirements the failure with
which to comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a DRI
Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of DRI, DRI's and its subsidiaries'
nuclear generating stations maintain emergency plans designed to respond to an
unplanned release therefrom of radioactive materials into the environment and
liability insurance to the extent required by law, and such further insurance
(other than liability insurance) as is consistent with DRI's view of the risks
inherent in the operation of a nuclear power facility. To the knowledge of DRI,
plans for the decommissioning of each of DRI's and its subsidiaries' nuclear
generating stations and for the short-term storage of spent nuclear fuel
conform with applicable regulatory or other legal requirements (other than
those with which the failure to comply would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a DRI Material Adverse Effect), and such plans have at all
times been funded to the extent required by law, which is consistent with DRI's
reasonable budget projections for such plans. To the knowledge of DRI, neither
DRI nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred any liability as a result of
operating nuclear power facilities for third parties which liability,
individually or in the aggregate, would have a DRI Material Adverse Effect.
Section IV.16 NRC Actions. Neither DRI nor any of its subsidiaries has been
given written notice of or been charged with actual or potential violation of,
or is the subject of any ongoing proceeding, inquiry, special inspection,
diagnostic evaluation or other NRC action (excluding rulemakings of general
application that may affect the conduct of DRI's business regarding DRI's
nuclear power facilities) of which DRI or any of its subsidiaries has received
written notice, under the Atomic Energy Act, any applicable regulations
thereunder or the terms and conditions of any license granted to DRI or any of
its subsidiaries regarding DRI's or any of its subsidiaries' nuclear power
facilities or any third party's nuclear power facility operated by DRI or any
of its subsidiaries that would have, or DRI reasonably believes would be
reasonably likely to have, a DRI Material Adverse Effect.
Section IV.17 Environmental Protection. Except as would not have,
individually or in the aggregate, a DRI Material Adverse Effect, (A) neither
DRI nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of, or has received any written
notice that it is subject to liability under, any Environmental Laws, (B) DRI
and its subsidiaries have, or have filed timely application for, all permits,
licenses, authorizations and approvals required under any applicable
Environmental Laws, all of which are in full force and effect, and are each in
compliance with their
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requirements, (C) there are no pending, or to the knowledge of DRI, threatened
administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters,
claims, liens, notices of noncompliance, violation or potential responsibility
or liability, investigation or proceeding pursuant to any Environmental Law
against DRI or any of its subsidiaries, or to the knowledge of DRI, any of
their respective predecessors-in-interest for which DRI or any of its
subsidiaries is or may be liable and (D) there are no past or present events,
conditions or circumstances which would reasonably be expected to form the
basis of an order or other requirement to conduct responsive or corrective
action, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or governmental
agency, against or affecting, or requiring capital or operating expenditures
by, DRI or any of its subsidiaries, in each case pursuant to any Environmental
Laws.
Section IV.18 Trading Position Risk Management. DRI has established a risk
management committee which, from time to time, establishes risk parameters to
restrict the level of risk that DRI and its subsidiaries are authorized to take
with respect to the net position resulting from physical commodity
transactions, exchange traded futures and options and over-the-counter
derivative instruments. The risk management committee of DRI regularly monitors
the compliance of DRI and its subsidiaries with such risk parameters.
Section IV.19 Litigation. (i) There are no suits, actions or proceedings
pending or, to the best knowledge of DRI threatened against or affecting DRI or
any of its subsidiaries and (ii) there are no judgments, decrees, injunctions,
rules or orders of any court, governmental department, commission, agency,
instrumentality or authority or any arbitrator outstanding against DRI or any
of its subsidiaries that, in each case, individually or in the aggregate, would
have, or are reasonably likely to have, a DRI Material Adverse Effect.
Section IV.20 Dividends. It is the present intention of DRI's Board of
Directors to maintain the dividends on DRI Common Stock at its current annual
rate.
Section IV.21 Merger Subs. All of the issued and outstanding shares of the
capital stock of New Sub I and New Sub II will be (a) owned directly by DRI and
(b) will be duly authorized, validly issued, full paid, nonassessable and free
of preemptive rights. New Sub I and New Sub II will be direct wholly-owned
Subsidiaries of DRI that will (a) have been formed for the sole purpose of
effecting the Mergers, (b) have no material assets, (c) engage in no other
material activities prior to the Effective Time and (d) have no Subsidiaries.
ARTICLE V
Representations and Warranties of CNG
Except as disclosed in the CNG SEC Reports (as defined in Section 5.5) filed
prior to the date hereof or as set forth on the Disclosure Schedule delivered
by CNG to DRI prior to the execution of this Agreement (the "CNG Disclosure
Schedule"), CNG represents and warrants to DRI as follows:
Section V.1 Organization and Qualification. CNG and each of its Significant
Subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, has all requisite
corporate power and authority, to own, lease and operate its assets and
properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, and is
duly qualified and in good standing to do business in each jurisdiction in
which the nature of its business or the ownership or leasing of its assets and
properties makes such qualification necessary, other than in such jurisdictions
where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing will not, when taken
together with all other such failures, have a material adverse effect on the
business, operations, properties, assets, condition (financial or otherwise),
prospects or results of operations of CNG and its subsidiaries taken as a whole
or on the consummation of this Agreement (any such material adverse effect
being hereinafter referred to as a "CNG Material Adverse Effect"). True,
accurate and complete copies of the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of
CNG, as in effect on the date hereof, have been delivered to DRI.
Section V.2 Subsidiaries. Exhibit 21 to the Annual Report of CNG on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 includes all subsidiaries of CNG
which as of the date of this Agreement are
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Significant Subsidiaries. All the outstanding shares of capital stock of, or
other equity interests in, each such Significant Subsidiary have been duly
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and are
owned directly or indirectly by CNG, free and clear of all Liens. There are no
outstanding subscriptions, options, calls, contracts, voting trusts, proxies or
other commitments, understandings, restrictions, arrangements, rights or
warrants, including any right of conversion or exchange under any outstanding
security, instrument or other agreement, obligating any Significant Subsidiary
to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, additional
shares of its capital stock or obligating it to grant, extend or enter into any
such agreement or commitment.
Section V.3 Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of CNG consists of
400,000,000 shares of CNG Common Stock and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock.
As of the close of business on January 31, 1999, 95,397,649 shares of CNG
Common Stock and no shares of preferred stock were issued and outstanding. All
of the issued and outstanding shares of the capital stock of CNG are validly
issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights. Except for the
CNG Rights (as defined in Section 5.14), as of the date hereof, there are no
outstanding subscriptions, options, calls, contracts, voting trusts, proxies or
other commitments, understandings, restrictions, arrangements, rights or
warrants, including any right of conversion or exchange under any outstanding
security, instrument or other agreement, obligating CNG or any of its
subsidiaries to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or
sold, additional shares of the capital stock or other voting securities of CNG
or obligating CNG or any of its subsidiaries to grant, extend or enter into any
such agreement or commitment.
Section V.4 Authority; Non-Contravention; Statutory Approvals; Compliance.
(a) Authority. CNG has all requisite power and authority to enter into this
Agreement and, subject to the CNG Shareholders' Approval (as defined in Section
5.10) and the CNG Required Statutory Approvals (as defined in Section 5.4(c)),
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The Board of Directors of
CNG has (a) determined that the Second Merger is fair and in the best interest
of CNG and its shareholders, (b) approved and adopted this Agreement, and (c)
resolved to recommend to the holders of CNG Common Stock that they give the CNG
Shareholders' Approval. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation by CNG of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of CNG, subject to
obtaining the CNG Shareholders' Approval. This Agreement has been duly and
validly executed and delivered by CNG and, assuming the due authorization,
execution and delivery of this Agreement by DRI, constitutes the legal, valid
and binding obligation of CNG enforceable against CNG in accordance with its
terms.
(b) Non-Contravention. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by CNG do
not and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not
result in any Violation by CNG or any of its Significant Subsidiaries under any
provisions of (i) the articles of incorporation, bylaws or similar governing
documents of CNG or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, (ii) subject to
obtaining the CNG Required Statutory Approvals and the receipt of the CNG
Shareholders' Approval, any statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation,
judgment, decree, order, injunction, writ, permit or license of any
Governmental Authority applicable to CNG or any of its Significant Subsidiaries
or any of their respective properties or assets, or (iii) subject to obtaining
the third-party consents or other approvals disclosed in Section 5.4(b) of the
CNG Disclosure Schedule (the "CNG Required Consents"), any note, bond,
mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, franchise, permit, concession,
contract, lease or other instrument, obligation or agreement of any kind to
which CNG or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is now a party or by which any
of them or any of their respective properties or assets may be bound or
affected, excluding from the foregoing clauses (ii) and (iii) such Violations
as would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a CNG Material Adverse
Effect.
(c) Statutory Approvals. No declaration, filing or registration with, or
notice to or authorization, consent, finding by or approval of, any
Governmental Authority is necessary for the execution and delivery of this
Agreement by CNG or the consummation by CNG of the transactions contemplated
hereby which if not obtained, made or given, would have, individually or in the
aggregate, a CNG Material Adverse Effect (the "CNG Required Statutory
Approvals"), it being understood that references in this Agreement to
"obtaining"
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such CNG Required Statutory Approvals shall mean making such declarations,
filings or registrations; giving such notice; obtaining such consents or
approvals; and having such waiting periods expire as are necessary to avoid a
violation of law.
(d) Compliance. Neither CNG nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the best
knowledge of CNG, any of its joint ventures, is in violation of or under
investigation with respect to, or has been given notice or been charged with
any violation of, any law, statute, order, rule, regulation, ordinance or
judgment (including, without limitation, any Environmental Laws) of any
Governmental Authority, except for violations that, individually or in the
aggregate, do not have, and, to the best knowledge of CNG, are not reasonably
likely to have, a CNG Material Adverse Effect. CNG, its subsidiaries and, to
the best knowledge of CNG, its joint ventures have all Permits, except those
Permits the failure to obtain which would not have, individually or in the
aggregate, a CNG Material Adverse Effect.
Section V.5 Reports and Financial Statements. The filings required to be made
by CNG and its subsidiaries since January 1, 1996 under the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act, the Power Act, the Natural Gas Act (the "Gas Act"), the Natural
Gas Policy Act of 1978 (the "Gas Policy Act"), the 1935 Act and applicable
state laws and regulations have been filed with the SEC, the FERC or the
applicable state regulatory authorities, as the case may be, including all
forms, statements, reports, agreements (oral or written) and all documents,
exhibits, amendments and supplements appertaining thereto, and complied in all
material respects with all applicable requirements of the appropriate act and
the rules and regulations thereunder. CNG has made available to DRI a true and
complete copy of each report, schedule, registration statement and definitive
proxy statement filed by CNG with the SEC under the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act, since January 1, 1996 and through the date hereof (as such
documents have since the time of their filing been amended, the "CNG SEC
Reports"). The CNG SEC Reports, including without limitation any financial
statements or schedules included therein, at the time filed, and any forms,
reports or other documents filed by CNG with the SEC after the date hereof, did
not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading. The audited consolidated financial statements and unaudited
interim financial statements of CNG included in the CNG SEC Reports
(collectively, the "CNG Financial Statements") have been prepared, and will be
prepared, in accordance with GAAP (except as may be indicated therein or in the
notes thereto and except with respect to unaudited statements as permitted by
Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act) and fairly present the consolidated financial
position of CNG as of the respective dates thereof or the consolidated results
of operations and cash flows for the respective periods then ended, as the case
may be, subject, in the case of the unaudited interim financial statements, to
normal, recurring audit adjustments.
Section V.6 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. From September 30, 1998
through the date hereof, each of CNG and each of its subsidiaries has conducted
its business only in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice and no event has occurred which has had, and no fact or condition
exists that would have or, to the best knowledge of CNG, is reasonably likely
to have, a CNG Material Adverse Effect.
Section V.7 Registration Statement and Proxy Statement. None of the
information supplied or to be supplied by or on behalf of CNG for inclusion or
incorporation by reference in (i) the Registration Statement will, at the time
the Registration Statement becomes effective under the Securities Act, and as
the same may be amended, at the effective time of such amendment, contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
and (ii) the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will, at the date such Joint
Proxy Statement/Prospectus is mailed to the shareholders of CNG and DRI and, as
the same may be amended or supplemented, at the times of the meetings of such
shareholders to be held in connection with the Mergers, contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading. The Registration Statement and the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus will comply as to form in all material respects with the
provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder.
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Section V.8 Employee Matters; ERISA.
(a) Each "employee benefit plan" (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA),
bonus, deferred compensation, stock option, employment, severance, change in
control or other written agreement relating to employment, fringe benefits or
perquisites for current or former employees of CNG or any of its subsidiaries,
maintained or contributed to by CNG or any of its subsidiaries at any time
during the seven-calendar year period immediately preceding the date hereof
(collectively, the "CNG Employee Benefit Plans") is listed in Section 5.8(a) of
the CNG Disclosure Schedule.
(b) With respect to the CNG Employee Benefit Plans, individually and in the
aggregate, no event has occurred and, to the knowledge of CNG, there exists no
condition or set of circumstances, in connection with which CNG or any of its
subsidiaries could be subject to any liability that is reasonably likely to
have a CNG Material Adverse Effect (except liability for benefits claims and
funding obligations payable in the ordinary course) under ERISA, the Code or
any other applicable law.
(c) Each CNG Employee Benefit Plan has been administered in accordance with
its terms, except for any failures to so administer any CNG Employee Benefit
Plans as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a CNG Material
Adverse Effect, CNG, its subsidiaries and all the CNG Employee Benefit Plans
are in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and all
other applicable laws and the terms of all applicable collective bargaining
agreements as they relate to the CNG Employee Benefit Plans, except for any
failures to be in such compliance as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a CNG Material Adverse Effect. Each CNG Employee Benefit Plan
which is intended to be qualified within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the
Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS and, to the
knowledge of CNG, no event has occurred and no condition exists which could
reasonably be expected to result in the revocation of any such determination.
(d) Except for all equity-based and other awards, the vesting and
exercisability of which will, by their terms, be accelerated as a result of the
transactions contemplated hereunder, no employee of CNG will be entitled to any
additional benefits or any acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of
any benefits under any CNG Employee Benefit Plan as a result of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section V.9 Regulation as a Utility. Neither CNG nor any subsidiary company
or affiliate of CNG is subject to regulation as a public utility or public
service company (or similar designation) by any state in the United States, by
the United States or any agency or instrumentality of the United States or by
any foreign country.
Section V.10 Vote Required. The approval of the Second Merger by a majority
of all votes entitled to be cast by the holders of CNG Common Stock (the "CNG
Shareholders' Approval"), is the only vote of the holders of any class or
series of the capital stock of CNG required to approve this Agreement, the
Second Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby.
Section V.11 [intentionally omitted].
Section V.12 Opinion of Financial Advisor. CNG has received the opinion of
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated dated the date hereof, to
the effect that, as of the date hereof, the CNG Merger Consideration to be
received by the holders of CNG Common Stock is fair from a financial point of
view to the holders of CNG Common Stock.
Section V.13 Ownership of DRI Common Stock. CNG does not "beneficially own"
(as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) any shares of
DRI Common Stock.
Section V.14 CNG Rights Agreement. CNG shall take all necessary action with
respect to all of the outstanding rights to purchase common stock of CNG (the
"CNG Rights") issued pursuant to the Rights Agreement dated as of January 23,
1996 between CNG and First Chicago Trust Company of New York, as Rights Agent
(the "CNG Rights Agreement"), so that CNG, as of the time immediately prior to
the Effective
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Time, will have no obligations under the CNG Rights or the CNG Rights
Agreement, except for the payment of any redemption price, if required, and so
that the holders of the CNG Rights will have no rights under the CNG Rights or
the CNG Rights Agreement, except for the payment of any redemption price, if
required. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not
result in a distribution of, or otherwise, trigger, the CNG Rights under the
CNG Rights Agreement.
Section V.15 Anti-Takeover Provisions. None of the business combination
provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law or the
certificate of incorporation or bylaws of CNG are applicable to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No other "fair price,"
"moratorium," "control share acquisition" or similar anti-takeover statute or
regulation is applicable to CNG, the Second Merger or any other transaction
contemplated hereby.
Section V.16 Environmental Protection. Except as would not have, individually
or in the aggregate, a CNG Material Adverse Effect, (A) neither CNG nor any of
its subsidiaries is in violation of, or has received any written notice that it
is subject to liability under, any Environmental Laws, (B) CNG and its
subsidiaries have or have filed timely application for, all permits, licenses,
authorizations and approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws,
all of which are in full force and effect, and are each in compliance with
their requirements, (C) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of CNG,
threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands,
demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance, violation or potential
responsibility or liability, investigation or proceedings pursuant to any
Environmental Law against CNG or any of its subsidiaries, or to the knowledge
of CNG, any of their respective predecessors-in-interest for which CNG or any
of its subsidiaries is or may be liable and (D) there are no past or present
events, conditions or circumstances which would reasonably be expected to form
the basis of an order or other requirement to conduct responsive or corrective
action, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or governmental
agency, against or affecting, or requiring capital or operating expenditures
by, CNG or any of its subsidiaries, in each case pursuant to any Environmental
Laws.
Section V.17 Trading Position Risk Management. CNG has established a risk
management department which, from time to time, establishes risk parameters to
restrict the level of risk that CNG and its subsidiaries are authorized to take
with respect to the net position resulting from physical commodity
transactions, exchange traded futures and options and over-the-counter
derivative instruments. The risk management department of CNG regularly
monitors the compliance by CNG and its subsidiaries with such risk parameters.
Section V.18 Litigation. (i) There are no suits, actions or proceedings
pending or, to the best knowledge of CNG threatened against or affecting CNG or
any of its subsidiaries and (ii) there are no judgments, decrees, injunctions,
rules or orders of any court, governmental department, commission, agency,
instrumentality or authority or any arbitrator outstanding against CNG or any
of its subsidiaries that, in each case, individually or in the aggregate, would
have, or are reasonably likely to have, a CNG Material Adverse Effect.
Section V.19 Rejection of Columbia Proposal. The Board of Directors of CNG
has concluded that the Mergers and this Agreement are fair and in the best
interests of CNG and its stockholders and has publicly rejected the acquisition
proposal communicated by Columbia Energy Group to CNG in a letter dated May 8,
1999.
ARTICLE VI
Conduct of Business Pending the Mergers
DRI and CNG have each delivered to the other a budget for the years 1999 and
2000 (respectively, the "DRI Budget" and the "CNG Budget"), which DRI or CNG,
as the case may be, may update or otherwise modify in writing for purposes of
this Article VI only with the consent in writing of CNG or DRI, as the case may
be. After the date hereof and prior to the Effective Time or earlier
termination of this Agreement, each of DRI and CNG agrees as to itself and its
subsidiaries, except as expressly contemplated or permitted in this Agreement,
or to the extent the other party shall otherwise consent in writing, as
follows:
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Section VI.1 Ordinary Course of Business. Each of DRI and CNG shall, and each
shall cause its respective subsidiaries to, carry on their respective
businesses in the usual, regular and ordinary course consistent with past
practice and use all commercially reasonable efforts to preserve intact their
present business organizations and goodwill, preserve the goodwill and
relationships with customers, suppliers and others having business dealings
with them, subject to prudent management of workforce needs and ongoing or
planned programs relating to downsizing, re-engineering and similar programs to
the end that their goodwill and ongoing businesses shall not be impaired in any
material respect at the Effective Time.
Section VI.2 Dividends. Neither DRI nor CNG shall, nor shall either permit
any of its subsidiaries to: (a) declare or pay any dividends on or make other
distributions in respect of any of their capital stock other than (i) in the
case of subsidiaries, to such subsidiary's shareholders, (ii) regular dividends
on DRI Common Stock with usual record and payment dates not in excess of an
annual rate of $2.58 per share, and (iii) regular dividends on CNG Common Stock
with usual record and payment dates not in excess of an annual rate of $1.94
per share; (b) split, combine or reclassify any of their capital stock or issue
or authorize or propose the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in
lieu of, or in substitution for, shares of its capital stock; or (c) redeem,
repurchase or otherwise acquire any shares of their capital stock other than
(but in all cases subject to Section 6.12) (i) redemptions, repurchases and
other acquisitions of shares of capital stock in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice including, without limitation,
repurchases, redemptions and other acquisitions in connection with the
administration of employee benefit and dividend reinvestment plans as in effect
on the date hereof in the ordinary course of the operation of such plans, (ii)
intercompany acquisitions of capital stock, (iii) purchases under DRI's
existing share repurchase program and (iv) the redemption, if required, of the
CNG Rights pursuant to the CNG Rights Agreement.
Section VI.3 Issuance of Securities. Except as provided in the DRI Budget or
the CNG Budget, as the case may be or as contemplated by this Agreement,
neither DRI nor CNG shall, nor shall either permit any of its subsidiaries to,
issue, deliver or sell, or authorize or propose the issuance, delivery or sale
of, any shares of their capital stock of any class or any securities
convertible into or exchangeable for, or any rights, warrants or options to
acquire, any such shares or convertible or exchangeable securities, other than
(a) the issuance of common stock, stock options, restricted stock or stock
appreciation or similar rights pursuant to (i) the existing Dominion Direct
Investment, Incentive Compensation Plan, Directors' Stock Compensation Plan,
Directors' Stock Accumulation Plan, Directors' Deferred Cash Compensation Plan,
Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, Employee Savings Plan, Subsidiary Savings
Plan, Hourly Employee Savings Plan and other existing plans and practices of
DRI or (ii) the existing 1991 Stock Incentive Plan, 1997 Stock Incentive Plan,
1995 Employee Stock Incentive Plan, Non-Employee Directors Restricted Stock
Plan, Dividend Reinvestment Plan, Employee Stock Ownership Plan and other
existing plans and practices of CNG, in each case consistent in kind and amount
with past practice and in the ordinary course of business under such plans
substantially in accordance with their present terms, (b) the issuance by a
subsidiary of shares of its capital stock to its shareholders and (c) the
issuance by DRI of shares of its capital stock in connection with any
acquisition permitted pursuant to Section 6.5, except that such issuance by DRI
shall not exceed an aggregate value of $800,000,000 without the prior written
consent of CNG.
Section VI.4 Charter Documents. Except as disclosed in Section 6.4 of the DRI
Disclosure Schedule or the CNG Disclosure Schedule, neither DRI nor CNG shall
amend or propose to amend its articles of incorporation or by-laws, except as
contemplated herein, in any way adverse to the other party. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, DRI may increase the number of authorized shares of DRI Common Stock
and may amend its articles of incorporation to eliminate the staggered terms of
its Board of Directors.
Section VI.5 Acquisitions. Except as disclosed in Section 6.5 of the DRI
Disclosure Schedule or the CNG Disclosure Schedule and except as provided in
the DRI Budget or the CNG Budget, as the case may be, neither DRI nor CNG
shall, nor shall either permit any of its subsidiaries to, acquire or agree to
acquire, by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing a substantial
equity interest in or a substantial portion of the assets of, or by any other
manner, any business or any corporation, partnership, association or other
business organization or division thereof, or otherwise acquire or agree to
acquire any assets (i) which would, in the case of either DRI
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Annex A--Agreement and Plan of Merger
and its subsidiaries or CNG and its subsidiaries, require a vote of the
shareholders of DRI or CNG, as the case may be, or (ii) which would exceed
$100,000,000 individually or $300,000,000 in the aggregate (including, in each
case, any recourse indebtedness assumed in connection therewith) and which, in
the case of CNG have not been approved in writing by DRI, which approval shall
not be unreasonably withheld, or in the case of DRI, with respect to which DRI
has not consulted with CNG or in the case of non-energy industry related
acquisitions in excess of $2,000,000,000 in the aggregate, to which CNG has not
consented, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, neither party shall acquire any nuclear power facilities without
the prior written consent of the other party.
Section VI.6 No Dispositions. Except as disclosed in Section 6.6 of the DRI
Disclosure Schedule or the CNG Disclosure Schedule, and other than (a)
dispositions not exceeding $100,000,000 individually or $300,000,000 in the
aggregate, in the case of, on the one hand, DRI and its subsidiaries and, on
the other hand, CNG and its subsidiaries, (b) as may be required by law to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, (c) in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practices, or (d) in the case of CNG, as may be
approved in writing by DRI, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld,
or, in the case of DRI, with respect to which DRI has consulted with CNG,
neither DRI nor CNG shall, nor shall either permit any of its subsidiaries to,
sell, lease, license, encumber or otherwise dispose of, any of its assets that
are material, individually or in the aggregate, to such party and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole.
Section VI.7 Indebtedness. Except as contemplated by this Agreement or
disclosed in Section 6.7 of the DRI Disclosure Schedule or the CNG Disclosure
Schedule and except as provided in the DRI Budget or the CNG Budget, as the
case may be, neither DRI nor CNG shall, nor shall either permit any of its
subsidiaries to, incur or guarantee any indebtedness (including any debt
borrowed or guaranteed or otherwise assumed, including, without limitation, the
issuance of debt securities or warrants or rights to acquire debt) other than
(a) short-term indebtedness in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice, (b) long-term indebtedness in connection with the refinancing of
existing indebtedness either at its stated maturity or at a lower cost of
funds, (c) additional indebtedness aggregating in any year not more than 110%
of the amount provided therefor in the DRI Budget with respect to DRI and its
subsidiaries or in the CNG Budget with respect to CNG and its subsidiaries, and
(d) in the case of CNG, as may be approved in writing by DRI, which approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld, or, in the case of DRI, with respect to
which DRI has consulted with CNG.
Section VI.8 Capital Expenditures. Except as disclosed in Section 6.8 of the
DRI Disclosure Schedule or the CNG Disclosure Schedule or as required by law,
neither DRI nor CNG shall, nor shall either permit any of its subsidiaries to,
make any capital expenditures, other than (a) capital expenditures to repair or
replace facilities destroyed or damaged due to casualty or accident (whether or
not covered by insurance), (b) additional capital expenditures in any year of
not more than 110% of the amount provided therefor in the DRI Budget for that
year with respect to DRI and its subsidiaries and in the CNG Budget for that
year with respect to CNG and its subsidiaries, and (c) in the case of CNG, as
may be approved in writing by DRI, which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld, or, in the case of DRI, with respect to which DRI has consulted with
CNG.
Section VI.9 Compensation, Benefits. Except as disclosed in Section 6.9 of
the CNG Disclosure Schedule or the CNG Budget, CNG shall not, nor shall it
permit any of its subsidiaries to, (i) enter into, adopt or amend (except as
may be required by applicable law), or increase the amount or accelerate the
payment or vesting of any benefit or amount payable under, any employee benefit
plan or other contract, agreement, commitment, arrangement, plan or policy
maintained by, contributed to or entered into by such party or any of its
subsidiaries, or increase, or enter into any contract, agreement, commitment or
arrangement to increase in any manner, the compensation or fringe benefits, or
otherwise to extend, expand or enhance the engagement, employment or any
related rights, of any director, officer or other employee of such party or any
of its subsidiaries, except pursuant to binding legal commitments or as a
result of normal collective bargaining processes, and except for normal
(including incentive) increases, extensions, expansions, enhancements,
amendments, replacements or adoptions in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice that, in
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the aggregate, do not result in a material increase in benefits or compensation
expense to such party and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or (ii) enter into
or amend any employment, severance or special pay arrangement with respect to
termination of employment or other similar contract, agreement or arrangement
with any director or officer other than in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice.
Section VI.10 1935 Act. None of the parties hereto shall, nor shall any such
party permit any of its Significant Subsidiaries to, except as required or
contemplated by this Agreement, engage in any activities that would cause a
change in its status, or that of its Significant Subsidiaries, under the 1935
Act.
Section VI.11 Accounting. Neither DRI nor CNG shall, nor shall either permit
any of its subsidiaries to, make any changes in their accounting methods,
except as required by law, rule, regulation or GAAP.
Section VI.12. [Intentionally Omitted].
Section VI.13 Tax-Free Status. Neither DRI nor CNG shall, nor shall either
permit any of its subsidiaries to, take any actions (including repurchasing
numbers of shares of DRI Common Stock or CNG Common Stock from holders or
former holders of CNG Common Stock) that would, or would be reasonably likely
to, adversely affect the qualification of the Second Merger as a transaction
described in Section 368(a)(1)(A) of the Code.
Section VI.14 Discharge of Liabilities. Neither DRI nor CNG shall pay,
discharge or satisfy any material claims, liabilities or obligations (absolute,
accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or otherwise), other than the
payment, discharge or satisfaction, in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice (which includes the payment of judgments and
settlements and the refinancing of existing indebtedness for borrowed money
either at its stated maturity or at a lower cost of funds) or in accordance
with their terms, of liabilities reflected or reserved against in, or
contemplated by, the most recent consolidated financial statements (or the
notes thereto) of such party included in such party's reports filed with the
SEC, or incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice or as disclosed in Section 6.7 of the DRI Disclosure Schedule or the
CNG Disclosure Schedule.
Section VI.15 Cooperation, Notification. Each of DRI and CNG shall: (a)
confer on a regular and frequent basis with one or more representatives of the
other to discuss the general status of its ongoing operations; (b) promptly
notify the other of any significant changes in its business, properties,
assets, condition (financial or other), prospects or results of operations; (c)
advise the other of any change or event that has had or, insofar as reasonably
can be foreseen, is reasonably likely to result in, a DRI Material Adverse
Effect or a CNG Material Adverse Effect, as the case may be; and (d) promptly
provide the other with copies of all filings made by it or any of its
subsidiaries with any state or federal court, administrative agency, commission
or other Governmental Authority in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby.
Section VI.16 Rate Matters. Other than currently pending rate filings, each
of DRI and CNG shall, and shall cause its subsidiaries to, discuss with the
other any changes in its or its subsidiaries' regulated rates or charges (other
than fuel and gas rates or charges), standards of service or accounting from
those in effect on the date hereof and consult with the other prior to making
any filing (or any amendment thereto), or effecting any agreement, commitment,
arrangement or consent, whether written or oral, formal or informal, with
respect thereto, and neither DRI nor CNG shall make any filing to change its
rates on file with any state regulatory authority or the FERC that would have a
material adverse effect on the benefits associated with the Mergers.
Section VI.17 Third-Party Consents. DRI shall, and shall cause its
subsidiaries to, use all commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all DRI
Required Consents. DRI shall promptly notify CNG of any failure or anticipated
failure to obtain any such consents and, if requested by CNG, shall provide
copies of all DRI Required Consents obtained by DRI to CNG. CNG shall, and
shall cause its subsidiaries to, use all commercially reasonable efforts to
obtain all CNG Required Consents. CNG shall promptly notify DRI of any failure
or anticipated failure to obtain any such consents and, if requested by DRI,
shall provide copies of all CNG Required Consents obtained by CNG to DRI.
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Section VI.18 No Breach, Etc. No party shall, nor shall any party permit any
of its subsidiaries to, take any action that would or is reasonably likely to
result in a material breach of any provision of this Agreement or in any of its
representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement being untrue on and
as of the Closing Date.
Section VI.19 Tax-Exempt Status. No party hereto shall, nor shall any party
permit any subsidiary to, take any action that would likely jeopardize the
qualification of the outstanding revenue bonds issued for the benefit of DRI
(or any subsidiary thereof) or for the benefit of CNG (or any subsidiary
thereof) that qualify on the date hereof under Section 142(a) of the Code as
"exempt facility bonds" or as tax-exempt industrial development bonds under
Section 103(b)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended prior to the
Tax Reform Act of 1986.
Section VI.20 Transition Management. (a) DRI and CNG shall create a special
transition management task force (the "Task Force") to be headed by Thomas E.
Capps, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DRI, and in addition, to consist
of two members nominated by CNG and two additional members nominated by DRI.
The Task Force shall report its findings to the Board of Directors of each of
DRI and CNG.
(b) The functions of the Task Force shall include (i) serving as a conduit
for the flow of information and documents between DRI and CNG as contemplated
by Section 6.15, (ii) development of transition plans, corporate organizational
and management plans, workforce combination proposals, and such other matters
as may be appropriate and (iii) otherwise assisting DRI and CNG in making an
orderly transition.
Section VI.21 Insurance. Each of DRI and CNG shall, and shall cause its
subsidiaries to, maintain with financially responsible insurance companies
insurance in such amounts and against such risks and losses as are customary
for companies engaged in their respective industries, taking into account, in
the case of DRI, DRI's methods of generating electric power and fuel sources.
Section VI.22 Permits. Each party shall, and shall cause its subsidiaries to,
use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain in effect all existing Permits
(as defined in Section 4.4) pursuant to which such party or such party's
subsidiaries operate.
ARTICLE VII
Additional Agreements
Section VII.1 Access to Information. Upon reasonable notice and during normal
business hours, each party shall, and shall cause its subsidiaries to, afford
to the officers, directors, employees, accountants, counsel, investment banker,
financial advisor and other representatives of the other (collectively,
"Representatives") reasonable access, during normal business hours throughout
the period prior to the Effective Time, to all of its properties, books,
contracts, commitments and records (including, but not limited to, tax returns)
and, during such period, each party shall, and shall cause its subsidiaries to,
furnish promptly to the other (i) a copy of each reasonably available report,
schedule and other document filed or received by it or any of its subsidiaries
pursuant to the requirements of federal or state securities laws or filed with
the SEC, the FERC, the NRC, the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade
Commission, or any other federal or any state regulatory agency or commission,
and (ii) all information concerning themselves, their subsidiaries, directors,
officers and shareholders and such matters as may be reasonably requested by
the other party in connection with any filings, applications or approvals
required or contemplated by this Agreement. All documents and information
furnished pursuant to this Section 7.1 shall be subject to the Confidentiality
Agreement between the parties (the "Confidentiality Agreement"). The party
requesting copies of any documents from any other party hereto shall be
responsible for all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the party to whom such
request is made in complying with such request, including any cost of
reproducing and delivering any required information.
Section VII.2 Joint Proxy Statement and Registration Statement.
(a) Preparation and Filing. As promptly as reasonably practicable after the
date hereof, DRI shall, in consultation with CNG, prepare and file with the SEC
an amendment to the Registration Statement and the
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Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (together the "Joint Proxy/Registration
Statement"). DRI shall take such actions as may be reasonably required to cause
the Registration Statement, as amended, to be declared effective under the
Securities Act as promptly as practicable after such filing and shall also take
such action as may be reasonably required to cause the shares of DRI Common
Stock issuable in connection with the Mergers to be registered or to obtain an
exemption from registration under applicable state "blue sky" or securities
laws. Each of the parties shall furnish all information concerning itself that
is required or customary for inclusion in the Joint Proxy/Registration
Statement. No representation, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement
is made by any party hereto with respect to information supplied by any other
party hereto for inclusion in the Joint Proxy/Registration Statement. The
parties shall take such actions as may be reasonably required to cause Joint
Proxy/Registration Statement to comply as to form in all material respects with
the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the 1935 Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder. DRI shall take such action as may be reasonably
required to cause the shares of DRI Common Stock to be issued in the Mergers to
be approved for listing on the NYSE and any other stock exchanges agreed to by
the parties, each upon official notice of issuance.
(b) Letter of DRI's Accountants. DRI shall use best efforts to cause to be
delivered to DRI and CNG letters of Deloitte & Touche LLP, one dated a date
within two (2) business days before the effective date of the Registration
Statement and one dated the Closing Date, and addressed to DRI and CNG, in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to DRI and CNG and customary in scope and
substance for "cold comfort" letters delivered by independent public
accountants in connection with registration statements and proxy statements
similar to the Joint Proxy/Registration Statement.
(c) Letter of CNG's Accountants. CNG shall use best efforts to cause to be
delivered to CNG and DRI letters of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, one dated a
date within two (2) business days before the effective date of the Registration
Statement and one dated the Closing Date, and addressed to CNG and DRI, in form
and substance satisfactory to CNG and DRI and customary in scope and substance
for "cold comfort" letters delivered by independent public accountants in
connection with registration statements and proxy statements similar to the
Joint Proxy/Registration Statement.
Section VII.3 Regulatory Matters.
(a) HSR Filings. Each party hereto shall file or cause to be filed with the
Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice any notifications
required to be filed by them or their respective "ultimate parent" companies
under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the
"HSR Act"), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect
to the transactions contemplated hereby. Such parties will use all commercially
reasonable efforts to make such filings promptly and shall respond promptly to
any requests for additional information made by either of such agencies.
(b) Other Regulatory Approvals. Each party hereto shall cooperate and use its
best efforts to promptly prepare and file all necessary documentation, to
effect all necessary applications, notices, petitions, filings and other
documents, and to use all commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all
necessary permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of all Governmental
Authorities and all other persons necessary or advisable to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, the
DRI Required Statutory Approvals and the CNG Required Statutory Approvals. CNG
shall have the right to review and approve in advance all characterizations of
the information relating to CNG, on the one hand, and DRI shall have the right
to review and approve in advance all characterizations of the information
relating to DRI, on the other hand, in either case, which appear in any filing
made in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the
Mergers, such approvals not to be unreasonably withheld. DRI and CNG shall each
consult with the other with respect to the obtaining of all such necessary or
advisable permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of Governmental
Authorities and shall keep each other informed of the status thereof.
Section VII.4 Shareholder Approvals.
(a) Approval of CNG Shareholders. CNG shall, as promptly as reasonably
practicable after the date hereof (i) take all steps reasonably necessary to
call, give notice of, convene and hold a special meeting of its
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shareholders (the "CNG Special Meeting") for the purpose of securing the CNG
Shareholders' Approval, (ii) distribute to its shareholders the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus in accordance with applicable federal and state law and
with its certificate of incorporation and bylaws, (iii) recommend to its
shareholders that they give the CNG Shareholders' Approval (provided that
nothing contained in this Section 7.4 shall require the Board of Directors of
CNG to take any action or refrain from taking any action that such Board
determines in good faith and with the advice of counsel as set forth in a
written, reasoned opinion would result in a breach of its fiduciary duties
under applicable law), and (iv) cooperate and consult with DRI with respect to
each of the foregoing matters.
(b) Approval of DRI Shareholders. DRI shall, as promptly as reasonably
practicable after the date hereof (i) take all steps reasonably necessary to
call, give notice of, convene and hold a special meeting of its shareholders
(the "DRI Special Meeting") for the purpose of securing the DRI Shareholders'
Approval, (ii) distribute to its shareholders the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus in accordance with applicable federal and state law and
its articles of incorporation and bylaws, (iii) recommend to its shareholders
that they give the DRI Shareholders' Approval (provided that nothing contained
in this Section 7.4 shall require the Board of Directors of DRI to take any
action or refrain from taking any action that such Board determines in good
faith and with the advice of counsel as set forth in a written, reasoned
opinion would result in a breach of its fiduciary duties under applicable law),
and (iv) cooperate and consult with CNG with respect to each of the foregoing
matters.
(c) Meeting Date. The DRI Special Meeting and the CNG Special Meeting shall
be held on the same day unless otherwise agreed by DRI and CNG.
Section VII.5 Directors' and Officers' Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification. To the extent, if any, not provided by an existing right
of indemnification or other agreement or policy, from and after the Effective
Time, DRI shall, to the fullest extent provided by CNG prior to the Closing and
not prohibited by applicable law, indemnify, defend and hold harmless the
present and former directors, officers and management employees of CNG and its
subsidiaries (each an "Indemnified Party" and, collectively, the "Indemnified
Parties") against (i) all losses, expenses (including reasonable attorneys'
fees and expenses), claims, damages, costs, liabilities, judgments or (subject
to the proviso of the next succeeding sentence) amounts that are paid in
settlement of or in connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or
investigation based in whole or in part on or arising in whole or in part out
of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer or management
employee of CNG or any subsidiary thereof, whether pertaining to any matter
existing or occurring at or prior to or after the Effective Time and whether
asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Effective Time and (ii) all
liabilities based in whole or in part on, or arising in whole or in part out
of, or pertaining to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. In
the event of any such loss, expense, claim, damage, cost, liability, judgment
or settlement (whether or not arising before the Effective Time), (x) DRI shall
pay the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel selected by the Indemnified
Parties, which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to DRI, promptly after
statements therefor are received, and otherwise advance to the Indemnified
Parties upon request reimbursement of documented expenses reasonably incurred,
in either case, to the extent not prohibited by the laws of the Commonwealth of
Virginia, (y) DRI shall cooperate in the defense of any such matter and (z) any
determination required to be made with respect to whether an Indemnified
Party's conduct complies with the standards under applicable law or as set
forth in DRI's articles of incorporation or bylaws shall be made by independent
counsel mutually acceptable to DRI and the Indemnified Party; provided,
however, that DRI shall not be liable for any settlement effected without its
written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
The Indemnified Parties as a group may retain only one law firm (other than
local counsel) with respect to each related matter except to the extent there
is, in the sole opinion of counsel to an Indemnified Party, under applicable
standards of professional conduct, a conflict on any significant issue between
positions of any two or more Indemnified Parties, in which case each
Indemnified Party with a conflicting position on a significant issue shall be
entitled to separate counsel. In the event any Indemnified Party is required to
bring any action to enforce rights or to collect moneys due under this
Agreement and is successful in such action, DRI shall reimburse such
Indemnified Party for all of its expenses in bringing and pursuing such action.
Each Indemnified Party shall be
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entitled to the advancement of expenses to the full extent contemplated in this
Section 7.5(a) in connection with any such action.
(b) Insurance. For a period of six (6) years after the Effective Time, DRI
shall cause to be maintained in effect the policies of directors' and officers'
liability insurance maintained by CNG; provided that DRI may substitute
therefor policies of at least the same coverage containing terms that are no
less advantageous with respect to matters occurring at or prior to the
Effective Time to the extent such liability insurance can be maintained
annually at a cost to DRI not greater than 200% of the current annual premiums
for the policies currently maintained by CNG for its directors' and officers'
liability insurance; provided further, that if such insurance cannot be so
maintained or obtained at such cost, DRI shall maintain or obtain as much of
such insurance for CNG as can be so maintained or obtained at a cost equal to
200% of the respective current annual premiums of CNG for its directors' and
officers' liability insurance and other indemnity agreements.
(c) Successors. In the event DRI or any of its successors or assigns (i)
consolidates with or merges into any other person and shall not be the
continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger
or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any
person, then and in either such case, proper provision shall be made so that
the successors and assigns of DRI shall assume the obligations set forth in
this Section 7.5.
(d) Survival of Indemnification. To the fullest extent not prohibited by law,
from and after the Effective Time, all rights to indemnification now existing
in favor of the employees, agents, directors or officers of CNG and its
subsidiaries with respect to their activities as such prior to or at the
Effective Time, as provided in their respective articles of incorporation or
bylaws or indemnification agreements in effect on the date of such activities
or otherwise in effect on the date hereof, shall survive the Second Merger and
shall continue in full force and effect for a period of not less than six (6)
years from the Effective Time.
Section VII.6 Disclosure Schedules. On or before the date of this Agreement,
(i) CNG has delivered to DRI a schedule (the "CNG Disclosure Schedule")
accompanied by a certificate signed by the chief financial officer of CNG
stating that the CNG Disclosure Schedule is being delivered pursuant to this
Section 7.6(i) and (ii) DRI has delivered to CNG a schedule (the "DRI
Disclosure Schedule") accompanied by a certificate signed by the chief
financial officer of DRI stating that the DRI Disclosure Schedule is being
delivered pursuant to this Section 7.6(ii). The CNG Disclosure Schedule and the
DRI Disclosure Schedule are collectively referred to herein as the "Disclosure
Schedules". The Disclosure Schedules constitute an integral part of this
Agreement and modify the respective representations, warranties, covenants or
agreements of the parties hereto contained herein to the extent that such
representations, warranties, covenants or agreements expressly refer to the
Disclosure Schedules. Any and all statements, representations, warranties or
disclosures set forth in the Disclosure Schedules shall be deemed to have been
made on and as of the date of this Agreement.
Section VII.7 Public Announcements. DRI and CNG shall cooperate with each
other in the development and distribution of all news releases and other public
information disclosures with respect to this Agreement or any of the
transactions contemplated hereby and, subject to each party's disclosure
obligations imposed by law or any applicable national securities exchange,
shall not issue any public announcement or statement prior to consultation with
the other party.
Section VII.8 Rule 145 Affiliates. Prior to the Closing Date, CNG shall
identify in a letter to DRI all persons who are, at the Closing Date,
"affiliates" of CNG, as such term is used in Rule 145 under the Securities Act.
CNG shall use its best efforts to cause its affiliates to deliver to DRI on or
prior to the Closing Date a written agreement in a form mutually agreeable to
DRI and CNG.
Section VII.9 Certain Employee Agreements. (a) Subject to Section 7.10, DRI
and its subsidiaries shall honor, without modification, all contracts,
agreements, collective bargaining agreements and commitments of CNG that apply
to any current or former employees or current or former directors of CNG;
provided, however, that this undertaking is not intended to prevent DRI from
enforcing such contracts, agreements, collective
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bargaining agreements and commitments in accordance with their terms or from
exercising any right to amend, modify, suspend, revoke or terminate any such
contract, agreement, collective bargaining agreement or commitment.
(b) Before undertaking any reductions in workforce following the Effective
Time, DRI will consider whether such reductions have a disproportionate effect
on employees of CNG and its subsidiaries in light of the circumstances and the
objectives to be achieved and the needs of the combined businesses of DRI and
CNG.
(c) Subject to applicable law and obligations under applicable collective
bargaining agreements, DRI shall maintain for a period of at least two (2)
years after the Closing Date, without interruption, such employee compensation,
welfare and benefit plans, programs, policies and fringe benefits as will, in
the aggregate, provide benefits to the employees or former employees of CNG and
its subsidiaries, respectively, who were employees immediately prior to the
Closing Date that are no less favorable than those provided pursuant to such
employee compensation, welfare and benefit plans, programs, policies and fringe
benefits of CNG and its subsidiaries, as in effect on the Closing Date.
Section VII.10 Incentive, Stock and Other Plans. With respect to each of
CNG's 1991 Stock Incentive Plan, 1997 Stock Incentive Plan, 1995 Employee Stock
Incentive Plan, Non-Employee Directors Restricted Stock Plan and Employee Stock
Ownership Plan and each other employee benefit plan, program or arrangement
under which the delivery of CNG Common Stock is required to be used for
purposes of the payment of benefits, grant of awards or exercise of options
(each a "Stock Plan"), DRI and CNG shall use their respective best efforts to
take such action as may be necessary so that, at the Effective Time of the
Second Merger, all benefits, grants of awards and options are converted to the
right to receive from DRI at the Effective Time cash equal to the "fair value"
at the Effective Time of each such benefit, grant of award or option. The
parties agree that "fair value" shall be determined in good faith by DRI and
CNG using recognized option valuation. With respect to those individuals who
subsequent to the Second Merger will be subject to the reporting requirements
under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, DRI shall administer the Stock Plans,
where applicable, in a manner that complies with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange
Act. DRI shall obtain any shareholder approvals that may be necessary for the
deduction of any compensation payable under any Stock Plan or other
compensation arrangement.
Section VII.11 No Solicitations. No party hereto shall, and each such party
shall cause its subsidiaries not to, permit any of its Representatives to, and
shall use its best efforts to cause such persons not to, directly or
indirectly, initiate, solicit or encourage, or take any action to facilitate
the making of any offer or proposal that constitutes or is reasonably likely to
lead to any Takeover Proposal (as defined below), or, in the event of any
unsolicited Takeover Proposal, engage in negotiations or provide any
confidential information or data to any person relating to any Takeover
Proposal. Each party shall notify the other orally and in writing of any such
inquiries, offers or proposals (including, without limitation, the terms and
conditions of any such proposal and the identity of the person making it)
within 24 hours of the receipt thereof and shall give the other five (5) days'
advance notice of any agreement to be entered into with or any information to
be supplied to any person making such inquiry, offer or proposal. Each party
hereto shall immediately cease and cause to be terminated all existing
discussions and negotiations, if any, with any other persons conducted
heretofore with respect to any Takeover Proposal. Notwithstanding anything in
this Section 7.11 to the contrary, in the event of an unsolicited Takeover
Proposal, unless the DRI Shareholders' Approval and the CNG Shareholders'
Approval have both been obtained, DRI or CNG may participate in discussions or
negotiations with, furnish information to, and afford access to the properties,
books and records of such party and its subsidiaries to any person in
connection with a possible Takeover Proposal with respect to such party by such
person, if and to the extent that (A) the Board of Directors of such party has
reasonably concluded in good faith (after consultation with its financial
advisors) that the person or group making the Takeover Proposal will have
adequate sources of financing to consummate the Takeover Proposal and that the
Takeover Proposal is more favorable to such party's shareholders than the
Mergers (in the case of DRI) and the Second Merger (in the case of CNG), (B)
the Board of Directors of such party is advised in a written, reasoned opinion
of outside counsel that a failure to do so would result in a breach of its
fiduciary duties under applicable law and (C) such party has entered
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into a confidentiality agreement with the person or group making the Takeover
Proposal containing terms and conditions no less favorable to such party than
the Confidentiality Agreement. As used in this Section 7.11, "Takeover
Proposal" shall mean any tender or exchange offer, proposal for a merger,
consolidation or other business combination involving any party or any of its
material subsidiaries, or any proposal or offer to acquire in any manner a
substantial equity interest in, or a substantial portion of the assets of, any
party or any of its material subsidiaries, other than pursuant to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section VII.12 DRI Board of Directors. The DRI Board of Directors will take
such action as may be necessary to cause the number of directors comprising the
full Board of Directors of DRI at the Effective Time to be seventeen persons,
ten of whom shall be designated by DRI prior to the Effective Time and seven of
whom shall be designated by CNG prior to the Effective Time, to be divided as
equally as possible among classes of directors if, at the Effective Time, DRI
has a staggered Board of Directors. The Board of Directors of DRI will have at
least three committees consisting of an audit committee, an organization,
compensation and nominating committee and a finance committee and such other
committees as the Board of Directors of DRI may determine is appropriate under
the circumstances. The finance committee will be chaired by a director
nominated by CNG. In addition, CNG will have a proportionate number of
representatives on each committee. Further, if the Closing Date occurs prior to
August 1, 2000 and if George A. Davidson, Jr. is then Chairman of the CNG Board
of Directors, he shall be Chairman of the DRI Board of Directors from the
Closing Date to August 1, 2000 and Thomas E. Capps shall be Vice Chairman of
the DRI Board of Directors. If George A. Davidson, Jr. does not become Chairman
of the DRI Board of Directors pursuant to the preceding sentence, Thomas E.
Capps shall continue as Chairman of the DRI Board of Directors. If George A.
Davidson, Jr. becomes Chairman of the DRI Board of Directors, Thomas E. Capps
shall reassume his position as Chairman of the DRI Board of Directors upon the
earlier of George A. Davidson, Jr.'s retirement or August 1, 2000.
Section VII.13 Corporate Offices. Following the Effective Time, DRI shall
maintain its corporate offices in Richmond, Virginia but shall continue to
maintain a significant operating office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Section VII.14 Expenses. Subject to Section 7.1 and Section 9.3, all costs
and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such expenses, except
that those expenses incurred in connection with printing the Joint
Proxy/Registration Statement, as well as the filing fee relating thereto, shall
be shared equally by DRI, on the one hand, and CNG, on the other hand. In
addition, prior to the Effective Time, CNG may establish an escrow account and
pay into such account cash in an amount sufficient to permit payment from such
escrow account of any and all real estate transfer taxes that may be due from
CNG or its shareholders in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.
Section VII.15 Community Support. DRI acknowledges that after the Effective
Time, it intends to provide charitable contributions and community support
within the service areas of the parties and their respective subsidiaries at
levels consistent with past practice.
Section VII.16 Further Assurances.
(a) Each of CNG and DRI shall, and shall cause its subsidiaries to, execute
such further documents and instruments and take such further actions as may
reasonably be requested by the other in order to consummate the Mergers and
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and to use its best efforts
to take or cause to be taken all actions, and to do or cause to be done all
things, necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and regulations to
consummate and make effective the Mergers and the other transactions
contemplated hereby (subject to the votes of its shareholders described in
Sections 4.10 and 5.10, respectively), including fully cooperating with the
other in obtaining the CNG Required Statutory Approvals, the DRI Required
Statutory Approvals and all other approvals and authorizations of any
Governmental Authorities necessary or advisable to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(b) CNG and DRI shall be responsible for the taking of any action necessary
or advisable to obtain the CNG Required Statutory Approvals and to obtain the
DRI Required Statutory Approvals, respectively. CNG
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and DRI agree to cooperate in obtaining the necessary approvals from the NRC,
the FERC and the SEC under the 1935 Act, the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act and from the applicable state authorities. CNG and DRI shall each provide
the other with copies of any filings made with any Governmental Authorities in
connection with the foregoing.
ARTICLE VIII
Conditions
Section VIII.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Mergers.
The respective obligations of each party to effect the Mergers shall be subject
to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of the following
conditions, except, to the extent permitted by applicable law, that such
conditions may be waived in writing pursuant to Section 9.5:
(a) Shareholder Approvals. The CNG Shareholders' Approval and the DRI
Shareholders' Approval shall have been obtained.
(b) No Injunction. No temporary restraining order or preliminary or
permanent injunction or other order by any federal or state court
preventing consummation of the Mergers shall have been issued and
continuing in effect, and the Mergers and the other transactions
contemplated hereby shall not have been prohibited under any applicable
federal or state law or regulation.
(c) Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have become
effective in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act, and no
stop order suspending such effectiveness shall have been issued and remain
in effect.
(d) Listing of Shares. The shares of DRI Common Stock issuable in the
Mergers pursuant to Article II shall have been approved for listing on the
NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance.
(e) Statutory Approvals. The DRI Required Statutory Approvals and the CNG
Required Statutory Approvals shall have been obtained at or prior to the
Effective Time, such approvals shall have become Final Orders (as
hereinafter defined), and no Final Order shall impose terms or conditions
that would have, or would be reasonably likely to have a material adverse
effect on the business, operations, properties, assets, condition
(financial or otherwise), prospects or results of operations of DRI and CNG
and their subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as if the Second Merger had
been consummated (but without giving effect to the impact of such material
adverse effect). A "Final Order" means action by the relevant regulatory
authority that has not been reversed, stayed, enjoined, set aside, annulled
or suspended, with respect to which any waiting period prescribed by law
before the transactions contemplated hereby may be consummated has expired,
and as to which all conditions to the consummation of such transactions
prescribed by law, regulation or order have been satisfied, and as to which
all opportunities for rehearing are exhausted (whether or not any appeal
thereof is pending).
Section VIII.2 Conditions to Obligation of CNG to Effect the Second Merger.
The obligation of CNG to effect the Second Merger shall be further subject to
the satisfaction, on or prior to the Closing Date, of the following conditions,
except as may be waived by CNG in writing pursuant to Section 9.5:
(a) Performance of Obligations of DRI. DRI shall have performed in all
material respects its agreements and covenants contained in or contemplated
by this Agreement required to be performed by it at or prior to the
Effective Time.
(b) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of
DRI set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date
hereof and as of the Closing Date as if made on and as of the Closing Date,
except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, except for such
failures of representations or warranties to be true and correct (without
giving effect to any materiality qualification or standard contained in any
such representation or warranties) which, individually or in the aggregate,
would not be reasonably likely to result in a DRI Material Adverse Effect.
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(c) Closing Certificates. CNG shall have received a certificate signed by
the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of DRI, dated the
Closing Date, to the effect that, to the best of each such officer's
knowledge, the conditions set forth in Section 8.2(a) and Section 8.2(b)
have been satisfied.
(d) DRI Material Adverse Effect. No DRI Material Adverse Effect shall
have occurred and there shall exist no fact or circumstance that would
have, or would be reasonably likely to have, a DRI Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Tax Opinion. CNG shall have received an opinion of counsel, in form
and substance satisfactory to CNG, dated the Closing Date, which opinion
may be based on appropriate representations of DRI and CNG that are in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to such counsel, to the effect that
the Second Merger will be treated as a transaction described in Section
368(a) of the Code and that no gain or loss will be recognized by the
stockholders of CNG who exchange CNG Common Stock solely for DRI Common
Stock pursuant to the Second Merger (except with respect to cash received
in lieu of fractional shares).
(f) DRI Required Consents. The DRI Required Consents shall have been
obtained.
Section VIII.3 Conditions to Obligation of DRI to Effect the Mergers. The
obligation of DRI to effect the Mergers shall be further subject to the
satisfaction, on or prior to the Closing Date, of the following conditions,
except as may be waived by DRI in writing pursuant to Section 9.5:
(a) Performance of Obligations of CNG. CNG shall have performed in all
material respects its agreements and covenants contained in or contemplated
by this Agreement required to be performed by it at or prior to the
Effective Time.
(b) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of
CNG set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material
respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as if made on and
as of the Closing Date, except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement,
except for such failures of representations or warranties to be true and
correct (without giving effect to any materiality qualification or standard
contained in any such representations or warranties) which, individually or
in the aggregate, would not be reasonably likely to result in a CNG
Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Closing Certificates. DRI shall have received a certificate signed by
the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of CNG, dated the
Closing Date, to the effect that, to the best of each such officer's
knowledge, the conditions set forth in Section 8.3(a) and Section 8.3(b)
have been satisfied.
(d) CNG Material Adverse Effect. No CNG Material Adverse Effect shall
have occurred and there shall exist no fact or circumstance that would
have, or would be reasonably likely to have, a CNG Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Tax Opinion. DRI shall have received an opinion of counsel, in form
and substance satisfactory to DRI, dated the Closing Date, which opinion
may be based on appropriate representations of DRI and CNG that are in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to such counsel, to the effect that
the Second Merger will be treated as a transaction described in Section
368(a) of the Code.
(f) CNG Required Consents. The CNG Required Consents shall have been
obtained.
ARTICLE IX
Termination, Amendment and Waiver
Section IX.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior
to the Closing Date, whether before or after approval by the shareholders of
the respective parties hereto contemplated by this Agreement:
(a) by mutual written consent of the Boards of Directors of DRI and CNG;
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(b) by DRI or CNG, by written notice to the other, if the Effective Time
shall not have occurred on or before January 31, 2000; provided, however,
that such date shall automatically be extended to July 31, 2000 if, on
January 31, 2000: (i) the condition set forth in Section 8.1(e) has not
been satisfied or waived; (ii) the other conditions to the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby are then capable of being satisfied;
and (iii) any approvals required by Section 8.1(e) that have not yet been
obtained are being pursued with diligence; provided further, that the right
to terminate this Agreement under this Section 9.1(b) shall not be
available to any party whose failure to fulfill any obligation under this
Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the
Effective Time to occur on or before the termination date;
(c) by DRI or CNG, by written notice to the other party, if the DRI
Shareholders' Approval shall not have been obtained at a duly held DRI
Special Meeting, including any adjournments thereof, or the CNG
Shareholders' Approval shall not have been obtained at a duly held CNG
Special Meeting, including any adjournments thereof;
(d) by DRI or CNG, if any state or federal law, order, rule or regulation
is adopted or issued, that has the effect, as supported by the written,
reasoned opinion of outside counsel for such party, of prohibiting the
Mergers or causing a DRI Material Adverse Effect or CNG Material Adverse
Effect, or if any court of competent jurisdiction in the United States or
any State shall have issued an order, judgment or decree permanently
restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Mergers or causing a
DRI Material Adverse Effect or CNG Material Adverse Effect, and such order,
judgment or decree shall have become final and nonappealable;
(e) by CNG, upon two (2) days' prior notice to DRI, if, as a result of a
tender offer by a party other than DRI or any of its affiliates or any
written offer or proposal with respect to a merger, sale of a material
portion of its assets or other business combination (each, a "Business
Combination") by a party other than DRI or any of its affiliates, the Board
of Directors of CNG determines in good faith that the fiduciary obligations
of such directors under applicable law require that such tender offer or
other written offer or proposal be accepted; provided, however, that (i)
(A) the Board of Directors of CNG has reasonably concluded in good faith
(after consultation with its financial advisors) that the person or group
proposing the Business Combination will have adequate sources of financing
to consummate the Business Combination and that the Business Combination is
more favorable to CNG's shareholders than the Second Merger and (B) the
Board of Directors of CNG shall have been advised in a written, reasoned
opinion by outside counsel that, notwithstanding a binding commitment to
consummate an agreement of the nature of this Agreement entered into in the
proper exercise of their applicable fiduciary duties, and notwithstanding
all concessions that may be offered by DRI in negotiations entered into
pursuant to clause (ii) below, such fiduciary duties would also require the
directors to reconsider such commitment as a result of such tender offer or
such written offer or proposal and (ii) prior to any such termination, CNG
shall, and shall cause its respective financial and legal advisors to,
negotiate with DRI to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of
this Agreement as would enable CNG to proceed with the transactions
contemplated herein; provided further, that DRI and CNG acknowledge and
affirm that, notwithstanding anything in this Section 9.1(e) to the
contrary, DRI and CNG intend this Agreement to be an exclusive agreement
and, accordingly, nothing in this Agreement is intended to constitute a
solicitation of an offer or proposal for a Business Combination, it being
acknowledged and agreed that any such offer or proposal would interfere
with the strategic advantages and benefits that DRI and CNG expect to
derive from the Second Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby;
(f) by DRI, upon two (2) days' prior notice to CNG, if, as a result of a
tender offer by a party other than CNG or any of its affiliates or any
written offer or proposal with respect to a Business Combination by a party
other than CNG or any of its affiliates, the Board of Directors of DRI
determines in good faith that the fiduciary obligations of such directors
under applicable law require that such tender offer or other written offer
or proposal be accepted; provided, however, that (i) (A) the Board of
Directors of DRI has reasonably concluded in good faith (after consultation
with its financial advisors) that the person or group proposing the
Business Combination will have adequate sources of financing to consummate
the Business Combination and that the Business Combination is more
favorable to DRI's shareholders than the Mergers
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Annex A--Agreement and Plan of Merger
and (B) the Board of Directors of DRI shall have been advised in a written,
reasoned opinion by outside counsel that, notwithstanding a binding
commitment to consummate an agreement of the nature of this Agreement
entered into in the proper exercise of their applicable fiduciary duties,
and notwithstanding all concessions that may be offered by CNG in
negotiations entered into pursuant to clause (ii) below, such fiduciary
duties would also require the directors to reconsider such commitment as a
result of such tender offer or such written offer or proposal and (ii)
prior to any such termination, DRI shall, and shall cause its respective
financial and legal advisors to, negotiate with CNG to make such
adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement as would enable
DRI to proceed with the transactions contemplated herein; provided further,
that DRI and CNG acknowledge and affirm that, notwithstanding anything in
this Section 9.1(f) to the contrary, DRI and CNG intend this Agreement to
be an exclusive agreement and, accordingly, nothing in this Agreement is
intended to constitute a solicitation of an offer or proposal for a
Business Combination, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such offer
or proposal would interfere with the strategic advantages and benefits that
DRI and CNG expect to derive from the Mergers and other transactions
contemplated hereby;
(g) by CNG, by written notice to DRI, if (i) there exist breaches of the
representations and warranties of DRI made herein as of the date hereof
which breaches, individually or in the aggregate, would or would be
reasonably likely to result in a DRI Material Adverse Effect, and such
breaches shall not have been remedied within twenty (20) days after receipt
by DRI of notice in writing from CNG, specifying the nature of such
breaches and requesting that they be remedied, (ii) DRI (and/or its
appropriate subsidiaries) shall not have in all material respects performed
and complied with its agreements and covenants contained in Section 6.2
(Dividends), Section 6.3 (Issuance of Securities) and Section 6.7
(Indebtedness) or shall have failed to perform and comply with, in all
material respects, its other agreements and covenants hereunder and such
failure to perform or comply with shall not have been remedied within
twenty (20) days after receipt by DRI of a notice in writing from CNG,
specifying the nature of such failure and requesting that it be remedied;
or (iii) the Board of Directors of DRI or any committee thereof (A) shall
withdraw or modify in any manner adverse to CNG its approval or
recommendation of this Agreement or the Mergers, (B) shall fail to reaffirm
such approval or recommendation upon CNG's request, (C) shall approve or
recommend any acquisition of DRI or a material portion of DRI's assets or
any tender offer for shares of capital stock of DRI, in each case, by a
party other than CNG or any of its affiliates or (D) shall resolve to take
any of the actions specified in clause (A), (B) or (C).
(h) by DRI, by written notice to CNG, if (i) there exist breaches of the
representations and warranties of CNG made herein as of the date hereof
which breaches, individually or in the aggregate, would or would be
reasonably likely to result in a CNG Material Adverse Effect, and such
breaches shall not have been remedied within twenty (20) days after receipt
by CNG of notice in writing from DRI, specifying the nature of such
breaches and requesting that they be remedied, (ii) CNG (and/or its
appropriate subsidiaries) shall not have in all material respects performed
and complied with its agreements and covenants contained in Section 6.2
(Dividends), Section 6.3 (Issuance of Securities) and Section 6.7
(Indebtedness) or shall have failed to perform and comply with, in all
material respects, its other agreements and covenants hereunder and such
failure to perform or comply with shall not have been remedied within
twenty (20) days after receipt by CNG of a notice in writing from DRI,
specifying the nature of such failure and requesting that it be remedied;
or (iii) the Board of Directors of CNG or any committee thereof (A) shall
withdraw or modify in any manner adverse to DRI its approval or
recommendation of this Agreement or the Second Merger, (B) shall fail to
reaffirm such approval or recommendation upon DRI's request, (C) shall
approve or recommend any acquisition of CNG or a material portion of CNG's
assets or any tender offer for shares of capital stock of CNG, in each
case, by a party other than DRI or any of its affiliates or (D) shall
resolve to take any of the actions specified in clause (A), (B) or (C).
Section IX.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of termination of this
Agreement by either DRI or CNG pursuant to Section 9.1, there shall be no
liability on the part of either DRI or CNG or their respective officers or
directors hereunder, except that Section 7.14 and Section 9.3 and the agreement
contained in the second to the last sentence of Section 7.1 shall survive any
such termination.
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Annex A--Agreement and Plan of Merger
Section IX.3 Termination Fee; Expenses.
(a) Expenses Payable upon Breach. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to
one (but not both) of Section 9.1(g)(i) or (ii) or Section 9.1(h)(i) or (ii),
then (i) the breaching party (the "Nonterminating Party") shall promptly (but
not later than five business days after receipt of notice of the amount due
from the other party) pay to the terminating party an amount equal to all
documented out-of-pocket expenses and fees incurred by such terminating party
(including, without limitation, fees and expenses payable to all legal,
accounting, financial, public relations and other professional advisors arising
out of, in connection with or related to the Mergers or the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement) not to exceed $25 million in the aggregate
("Out-of-Pocket Expenses"); provided, however, that, if this Agreement is
terminated by a party as a result of a willful breach or failure to perform or
comply with agreements and covenants by the Nonterminating Party, the
Nonterminating Party shall in addition to the other parties' Out-of-Pocket
Expenses, be liable to the other party for such party's actual damages as a
result of such breach.
(b) Termination Fee Payable upon Acceptance of a Proposal. If this Agreement
is terminated pursuant to one of Section 9.1(e) or Section 9.1(f) but not the
other on the basis of a good faith determination made as provided in such
Section 9.1(e) or Section 9.1(f) that the fiduciary obligations of the
directors of the terminating party under applicable law require acceptance of a
tender offer or other written offer or proposal with respect to a Business
Combination and such terminating party (or an affiliate thereof) enters into an
agreement (whether or not such agreement is embodied in a definitive manner) to
consummate a Business Combination with a third party within two (2) years of
such termination, then the terminating party shall promptly (but not later than
five (5) business days after receipt of notice of the amount due from the other
party), but prior to entering into such agreement with the third party, pay to
the other party an amount equal to Out-of-Pocket Expenses plus $200 million.
(c) Termination Fee In Certain Other Events. If this Agreement is terminated
(i) pursuant to Section 9.1(g)(iii) or Section 9.1(h)(iii), or (ii)(x) pursuant
to Section 9.1(b), (y) following a failure of the shareholders of CNG or DRI to
grant the necessary approvals described in Section 4.10 or Section 5.10, as the
case may be (a "Shareholder Disapproval"), or (z) as a result of a material
breach of Section 7.4, and in the case of a termination pursuant to clause (ii)
hereof, at the time of such termination (or, in the case of any termination
following a Shareholder Disapproval, prior to the shareholder meeting at which
such Shareholder Disapproval occurred), there shall have been a third-party
tender offer for shares of, or a third-party offer or proposal with respect to
a Business Combination involving, CNG or DRI (as the case may be, the "Target
Party") or the affiliates thereof which, at the time of such termination (or of
the meeting of the Target Party's shareholders, as the case may be) shall not
have been (A) rejected by the Target Party and its Board of Directors and (B)
withdrawn by the third party, then promptly (but not later than five business
days after receipt of notice of the amount due from the other party) after the
termination of this Agreement (1) if DRI is the Target Party or the termination
is pursuant to Section 9(g)(iii), DRI shall pay to CNG a termination fee equal
to $200 million plus Out-of-Pocket Expenses and (2) if CNG is the Target Party
or the termination is pursuant to Section 9(h)(iii), CNG shall pay to DRI a
termination fee equal to $200 million plus Out-of-Pocket Expenses; provided,
however, that no such amounts shall be payable if and to the extent the party
to make such payment shall have paid such amounts pursuant to Section 9.3(a) or
Section 9.3(b). Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the $200 million
termination fee plus Out-of-Pocket Expenses shall not be payable by DRI or CNG
in the event that this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9.1(c)
following a Shareholder Disapproval on the part of the DRI or CNG stockholders,
as the case may be, even if at the time of such termination there was a third-
party tender offer for shares of, or a third-party offer or proposal with
respect to a Business Combination involving the applicable Target Party, unless
the Board of Directors of the applicable Target Party (i) withdraws, amends or
otherwise modifies in any manner adverse to DRI or CNG, as the case may be, its
approval or recommendation of this Agreement or the Mergers, (ii) fails to
reaffirm its approval or recommendation with respect to this Agreement or the
Mergers upon the request of DRI or CNG, as the case may be, (iii) approves or
recommends any acquisition of the Target Party or a material portion of the
Target Party's assets or any tender offer for shares of capital stock of the
Target Party, in each case, by a party other than DRI or CNG, as the case may
be, or (iv) resolves to take any of the actions specified in clause (i), (ii)
or (iii); provided, that the $200 million termination fee plus Out-of-Pocket
Expenses shall be payable by DRI or CNG, as the case may be, whether or
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Annex A--Agreement and Plan of Merger
not the Target Party takes any of the actions set forth in clauses (i), (ii) or
(iii), if the applicable Target Party enters into an agreement (whether or not
such agreement is embodied in a definitive manner) to consummate a Business
Combination or effects a Business Combination with a third party within two (2)
years of such termination pursuant to Section 9.1(c). The parties acknowledge
and agree that for purposes of the foregoing sentence, "Business Combination"
shall mean with respect to DRI or CNG, as the case may be, (i) a merger,
reorganization, consolidation, share exchange, business combination,
recapitalization or similar transaction involving such party as a result of
which either (A) such party's stockholders prior to such transaction (by virtue
of their ownership of such party's shares) in the aggregate cease to own at
least 60% of the voting securities of the entity surviving or resulting from
such transaction (or the ultimate parent entity thereof) or, regardless of the
percentage of voting securities held by such stockholders, if any person or
entity shall beneficially own, directly or indirectly, at least 40% of the
voting securities of such ultimate parent entity, or (B) the individuals
comprising the board of directors of such party prior to such transaction do
not constitute a majority of the board of directors of such ultimate parent
entity, (ii) a sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition of at least
40% of the assets of such party and its Subsidiaries, taken as whole, in a
single transaction or a series of related transactions (other than a pro rata
spin-off to such party's stockholders), or (iii) the acquisition, directly or
indirectly, by any person or entity of beneficial ownership of 40% or more of
the common stock of such party whether by merger, consolidation, share
exchange, business combination, tender or exchange offer or otherwise.
(d) Expenses. The parties agree that the agreements contained in this Section
9.3 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
constitute liquidated damages and not a penalty. If one party fails to promptly
pay to the other any fees due hereunder, such defaulting party shall pay the
costs and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) in connection with any
action, including the filing of any lawsuit or other legal action, taken to
collect payment, together with interest on the amount of any unpaid fee at the
publicly announced prime rate of Citigroup, N.A. in effect from time to time
from the date such fee was required to be paid.
Section IX.4 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto
pursuant to action of the respective Boards of Directors of each of DRI and
CNG, at any time before or after approval hereof by the shareholders of DRI and
CNG and prior to the Effective Time, but after such approvals, no such
amendment shall (a) alter or change the amount or kind of shares, rights or any
of the proceedings of the exchange and/or conversion under Article II, or (b)
alter or change any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement if any of the
alterations or changes, alone or in the aggregate, would materially and
adversely affect the rights of holders of CNG Common Stock, except for
alterations or changes that could otherwise be adopted by the Board of
Directors of DRI and/or CNG, without the further approval of such shareholders,
as applicable. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in
writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto.
Section IX.5 Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, the parties
hereto may (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or
other acts of the other parties hereto, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the
representations and warranties contained herein or in any document delivered
pursuant hereto and (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or
conditions contained herein. Any agreement to any such extension or waiver
shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by a duly
authorized officer of each party.
ARTICLE X
General Provisions
Section X.1 Non-Survival of Representations, Warranties, Covenants and
Agreements. None of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
in this Agreement shall survive the Mergers, except the covenants and
agreements contained in this Section 10.1 and in Article II (Treatment of
Shares), the second to the last sentence of Section 7.1 (Access to
Information), Section 7.5 (Directors' and Officers' Indemnification), Section
7.9 (Certain Employee Agreements), Section 7.10 (Incentive, Stock and Other
Plans), Section 7.12 (DRI Board of Directors), Section 7.13 (Corporate
Offices), Section 7.14 (Expenses), Section 7.15 (Community Support) and Section
10.7 (Parties in Interest), each of which shall survive in accordance with its
terms.
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Annex A--Agreement and Plan of Merger
Section X.2 Brokers. DRI represents and warrants that, except for Lehman
Brothers Inc.and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, its investment banking firms, no
broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder's or
other fee or commission in connection with the Mergers or the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of
DRI. CNG represents and warrants that, except for Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner
& Smith Incorporated, its investment banking firm, no broker, finder or
investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder's or other fee or
commission in connection with the Mergers or the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of CNG.
Section X.3 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be
in writing and shall be deemed given (a) if delivered personally, or (b) if
sent by overnight courier service (receipt confirmed in writing), or (c) if
delivered by facsimile transmission (with receipt confirmed), or (d) five days
after being mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested)
to the parties, in each case to the following addresses (or at such other
address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
(i) If to CNG, to:
Stephen E. Williams
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Consolidated Natural Gas Company
CNG Tower
625 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
Fax: (412) 690-7633
with a copy to:
Cahill Gordon & Reindel
80 Pine Street
New York, New York 10005
Attn: Gary W. Wolf
Fax: (212) 269-5420
(ii) If to DRI, to:
James F. Stutts
Vice President and General Counsel
Dominion Resources, Inc.
120 Tredegar STreet
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Fax: (804) 819-2233
with a copy to:
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
425 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Attn: Richard I. Beattie
Fax: (212) 455-2502
and
McGuire, Woods, Battle & Booth LLP
901 East Cary Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Attn: Robert L. Burrus
Fax: (804) 698-2170
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Annex A--Agreement and Plan of Merger
Section X.4 Miscellaneous. This Agreement (including the documents and
instruments referred to herein): (a) constitutes the entire agreement and
supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and
oral, among the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter
hereof other than the Confidentiality Agreement; and (b) shall not be assigned
by operation of law or otherwise. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to
contracts executed in and to be fully performed in such State, without giving
effect to its conflicts of laws statutes, rules or principles. The invalidity
or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the
validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which
shall remain in full force and effect. The parties hereto shall negotiate in
good faith to replace any provision of this Agreement so held invalid or
unenforceable with a valid provision that is as similar as possible in
substance to the invalid or unenforceable provision.
Section X.5 Interpretation. When reference is made in this Agreement to
Articles, Sections or Exhibits, such reference shall be to an Article, Section
or Exhibit of this Agreement, as the case may be, unless otherwise indicated.
The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words "include", "includes", or
"including" are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by
the words "without limitation." Whenever "or" is used in this Agreement it
shall be construed in the nonexclusive sense.
Section X.6 Counterparts; Effect. This Agreement may be executed in one or
more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of
which shall constitute one and the same agreement.
Section X.7 Parties in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto, and, except for rights of
Indemnified Parties as set forth in Section 7.5 (Directors' and Officers'
Indemnification), nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to
confer upon any person any rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or
by reason of this Agreement.
Section X.8 Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that irreparable
damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement
were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise
breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties hereto shall be entitled to
an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to
enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court of the United
States or any state having jurisdiction, this being in addition to any other
remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.
Section X.9 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE
FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY
JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING
TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON
CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO
REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED EXPRESSLY
OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK
TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER
PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER
THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
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Annex A--Agreement and Plan of Merger
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, DRI and CNG have caused this Agreement to be signed by
their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above
written.
DOMINION RESOURCES, INC.
/s/ Thos. E. Capps
By: _________________________________
Name:Thos. E. Capps
Title:Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer
CONSOLIDATED NATURAL GAS COMPANY
/s/ George A. Davidson, Jr.
By: _________________________________
Name:George A. Davidson, Jr.
Title:Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer
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Annex B--Lehman Brothers Opinion
Annex B
[LOGO APPEARS HERE]
May 11, 1999
Board of Directors
Dominion Resources, Inc.
120 Tredegar Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Members of the Board:
We understand that Dominion Resources, Inc. ("DRI") and Consolidated Natural
Gas Company ("CNG"), are proposing to enter into an Amended Agreement and Plan
of Merger, dated as of May 11, 1999 (the "Merger Agreement"), which provides
for the merger (the "Merger") of CNG into DRI. Upon the effectiveness of the
Merger, each issued and outstanding share of common stock of CNG (the "CNG
Common Stock"), will be converted into the right to receive (at the election of
each CNG shareholder and subject to proration) either (x) $66.60 in cash (the
"Cash Consideration") or (y) 1.52 shares of DRI common stock plus a cash
payment equal to the difference between $66.60 and the market value of such
shares of DRI stock (such shares and cash payment, collectively the "Stock
Consideration"; the Cash Consideration and the Stock Consideration, together
the "Consideration"). The terms and conditions of the Merger are more fully set
forth in the Merger Agreement.
We have been requested by the Board of Directors of DRI to render our opinion
with respect to the fairness, from a financial point of view, to DRI of the
Consideration to be paid to the holders of CNG common stock in connection with
the Merger. We have not been requested to opine as to, and our opinion does not
in any manner address, DRI's underlying business decision to proceed with or
effect the Merger.
In arriving at our opinion, we reviewed and analyzed: (1) the Merger
Agreement and the specific terms of the Merger, (2) such publicly available
information concerning DRI and CNG that we believe to be relevant to our
analysis, including their respective Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended 1998 and other publicly available documents, (3) financial and
operating information with respect to the business, operations and prospects of
DRI and CNG furnished to us by DRI and CNG, respectively, (4) a trading history
of the DRI Common Stock from January 1, 1994 to the present and a comparison of
that trading history with those of other companies that we deemed relevant,
including CNG (5) a trading history of the CNG Common Stock from January 1,
1994 to the present and a comparison of that trading history with those of
other companies that we deemed relevant, including DRI, (6) a comparison of the
historical financial results and present financial condition of DRI and CNG
with those of other companies that we deemed relevant, (7) a comparison of the
financial terms of the Merger Agreement with the financial terms of certain
other recent transactions that we deemed relevant, (8) the relative pro forma
financial contributions of DRI and CNG to the combined company upon
consummation of the Merger, (9) the potential pro forma impact of the Merger on
DRI (including the costsavings, operating synergies and strategic benefits
expected by the managements of DRI and CNG), and (10) certain estimates of
reserves and production by DRI and CNG. In addition, we have had discussions
with the management of DRI and CNG concerning their respective businesses,
operations, assets, financial conditions and prospects (including the cost
savings, operating synergies and strategic benefits expected by the managements
of DRI and CNG to result from the Merger) and have undertaken such other
studies, analyses and investigations as we deemed appropriate.
In arriving at our opinion, we have assumed and relied upon the accuracy and
completeness of the financial and other information used by us without assuming
any responsibility for independent verification of such information and have
further relied upon the assurances of management of DRI and CNG that they are
not aware of any facts or circumstances that would make such information
inaccurate or misleading. With respect
B-1
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Annex B--Lehman Brothers Opinion
to the financial projections of DRI and CNG, upon advice of DRI and CNG, as the
case may be, we have assumed that such projections have been reasonably
prepared on a basis reflecting the best currently available estimates and
judgments of the managements of DRI and CNG, as the case may be, as to their
respective future financial performance and that DRI and CNG will perform in
accordance with such projections. With respect to the cost savings, operating
synergies and strategic benefits projected by the managements of DRI and CNG to
result from the Merger, we have assumed that such cost savings, operating
synergies and strategic benefits will be realized substantially in accordance
with such projections. In arriving at our opinion, we have not conducted a
physical inspection of the properties and facilities of DRI or CNG and have not
made or obtained any evaluations or appraisals of the assets or liabilities of
DRI or CNG. In addition, we have assumed that the Merger will qualify for
purchase accounting treatment. Our opinion necessarily is based upon market,
economic and other conditions as they exist on, and can be evaluated as of, the
date of this letter.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion as of the date
hereof that, from a financial point of view, the Consideration to be paid to
the holders of CNG common stock is fair to DRI.
We have acted as financial advisor to DRI in connection with the Merger and
will receive a fee for our services, a portion of which is contingent upon the
consummation of the Merger. In addition, DRI has agreed to indemnify us for
certain liabilities that may arise out of the rendering of this opinion. We
also have performed investment banking services for DRI in the past and have
received customary fees for such services. In the ordinary course of our
business, we actively trade in the debt and equity securities of DRI and CNG
for our own account and for the accounts of our customers and, accordingly, may
at any time hold a long or short position in such securities.
This opinion is for the use and benefit of the Board of Directors of DRI and
is rendered to the Board of Directors in connection with its consideration of
the Merger. This opinion is not intended to be and does not constitute a
recommendation to any stockholder of DRI as to how such stockholder should vote
with respect to the Merger.
Very truly yours,
LEHMAN BROTHERS
B-2
<PAGE>
Annex C--Merrill Lynch Opinion
Annex C
Investment
Banking
Corporate and
Institutional
[LOGO APPEARS HERE] Client Group
One Houston
Center
1221 McKinney
Suite 2700
Houston, Texas
77010
713 759 2500
FAX 713 759 2580
As of May 11,
1999
Board of Directors
Consolidated Natural Gas Company
CNG Tower
625 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-3199
Gentlemen:
Consolidated Natural Gas Company (the "Company") and Dominion Resources, Inc.
("Dominion Resources") propose to enter into an amended and restated agreement
and plan of merger dated as of May 11, 1999 (the "Agreement") pursuant to
which, among other things, the Company will be merged with and into a wholly-
owned subsidiary of Dominion in a transaction (the "Merger") in which 40% of
the Company's stock, par value $2.75 per share (the "Shares") will be converted
into the right to receive $66.60 per share in cash (the "Cash Consideration"),
and the balance of the Shares will be converted into the right to receive a
number of shares of common stock of Dominion (the "Dominion Shares") having a
value of $66.60 per Share, provided that, if the value of 1.52 Dominion Shares
is less than $66.60 then each such Share shall be converted into the right to
receive 1.52 Dominion Shares plus an amount of cash so that the total value of
Dominion Shares and cash received in respect of each such Share is $66.60 (the
"Stock Consideration" and together with the Cash Consideration, the "Merger
Consideration"). The Merger is expected to be considered by the stockholders of
the Company and Dominion at special stockholders' meetings. The terms and
conditions of the Merger are more fully set forth in the Agreement.
You have asked us whether, in our opinion, the Merger Consideration to be
received in the Merger by the holders of the Shares other than Dominion and its
affiliates is fair to such stockholders from a financial point of view.
In arriving at the opinion set forth below, we have, among other things:
(1) Reviewed the Company's Annual Reports, Forms 10-K and related financial
information for the five fiscal years ended December 31, 1998;
(2) Reviewed Dominion's Annual Reports, Forms 10-K and related financial
information for the five fiscal years ended December 31, 1998;
(3) Reviewed certain information, including financial forecasts, relating
to the business, earnings, cash flow, assets and prospects of each of
the Company and Dominion, furnished to us by the Company and Dominion;
(4) Conducted discussions with members of senior management of the Company
and Dominion concerning their respective businesses and prospects;
(5) Reviewed the historical market prices and trading activity for the
Shares and Dominion Shares and compared them with equivalent data of
certain publicly traded companies which we deemed to be reasonably
similar to the Company and Dominion, respectively;
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Annex C--Merrill Lynch Opinion
(6) Compared the results of operations of the Company and Dominion with
those of certain companies which we deemed to be reasonably similar to
the Company and Dominion, respectively;
(7) Compared the proposed financial terms of the transactions contemplated
by the Agreement with the financial terms of certain other mergers and
acquisitions which we deemed to be relevant;
(8) Reviewed the Agreement;
(9) Taken into account the terms of the proposal made by Columbia Energy
Group (the "Columbia Proposal") as set forth under cover of the letter
delivered on its behalf dated May 8, 1999;
(10) Taken into account presentations by the persons designated by the
Company as having primary responsibilities for analyzing the
regulatory issues associated with the Merger and with the Columbia
Proposal; and
(11) Reviewed such other financial studies and analyses and performed such
other investigations and taken into account such other matters as we
deemed necessary, including our assessment of general economic, market
and monetary conditions.
In preparing our opinion, we have assumed and relied on the accuracy and
completeness of all information supplied or otherwise made available to us by
the Company and Dominion, discussed with or reviewed by or for us, or publicly
available, and we have not assumed responsibility for independently verifying
such information. We have not undertaken an independent evaluation or appraisal
of any of the assets or liabilities, contingent or otherwise, of the Company or
Dominion or any actuarial analysis with respect to Dominion, nor have we been
furnished with any such evaluation, appraisal or actuarial analysis. We are not
experts in the evaluation of allowances for credit or loan losses, and we have
not made an independent evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for credit
or loan losses of Dominion nor reviewed any individual credit or loan files
relating to Dominion. In addition, we have not assumed any obligation to
conduct, nor have we conducted any physical inspection of the properties or
facilities of the Company or Dominion. With respect to the financial forecast
information of the Company and Dominion, including, without limitation,
financial forecasts, evaluation of contingencies and projections regarding,
among other things, future economic conditions pertaining to the Company, and
the synergies and cost savings that may result from the Merger ("Merger
Benefits"), furnished to or discussed with us by the Company and Dominion, we
have assumed that they have been reasonably prepared and reflect the best
currently available estimates, allocations and judgements of the senior
management of the Company and Dominion as to the expected future financial
performance of the Company, Dominion or the combined entity, as the case may
be, the Merger Benefits and the other items referred to above. We express no
opinion as to such financial forecast information, the Merger Benefits or other
items or the assumptions upon which they were based. We have further assumed
that the Merger will qualify as a tax-free reorganization for U.S. federal
income tax purposes. We have also assumed that the final form of the Agreement
will be substantially similar to the last drafts reviewed by us and that the
Merger will be consummated in accordance with the Agreement.
In connection with the preparation of this opinion, we have not been
authorized by the Company or the Board of Directors of the Company to solicit,
nor have we solicited, third-party indications of interest for the acquisition
of all or any part of, or combination with, the Company. Our opinion is
necessarily based on financial, economic, market and other conditions as in
effect on, and the information made available to us as of, the date hereof.
We have acted as financial advisor to the Board of Directors of the Company
in connection with this transaction and will receive a fee for our services. We
have, in the past, provided financial advisory and financing services to the
Company and Dominion and have received fees for the rendering of such services.
In the ordinary course of our business, we may actively trade the securities
of the Company or Dominion for our own account and for the accounts of
customers and, accordingly, may at any time hold a long or short position in
such securities.
C-2
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Annex C--Merrill Lynch Opinion
It is understood that this letter is for the information of the Board of
Directors of the Company, and does not constitute a recommendation to any
shareholder of the Company as to how a shareholder should vote at the
shareholders' meeting held in connection with the Merger.
We are not expressing any opinion herein as to the prices at which the
Dominion Shares will trade following the consummation of the Merger or the
prices at which the Shares will trade between the date hereof and the
consummation of the Merger.
On the basis of, and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the
Merger Consideration to be received in the Merger by the holders of the Shares
other than Dominion and its affiliates is fair to such stockholders from a
financial point of view.
Very truly yours,
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
INCORPORATED
C-3
<PAGE>
_______________________________________Annex D--Section 262--Delaware Law
Annex D
SECTION 262 OF THE
DELAWARE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW
(a) Any stockholder of a corporation of this State who holds shares of stock on
the date of the making of a demand pursuant to subsection (d) of this section
with respect to such shares, who continuously holds such shares through the
effective date of the merger or consolidation, who has otherwise complied with
subsection (d) of this section and who has neither voted in favor of the merger
or consolidation nor consented thereto in writing pursuant to (S)228 of this
title shall be entitled to an appraisal by the Court of Chancery of the fair
value of the stockholder's shares of stock under the circumstances described in
subsections (b) and (c) of this section. As used in this section, the word
"stockholder" means a holder of record of stock in a stock corporation and also
a member of record of a nonstock corporation; the words "stock" and "share"
mean and include what is ordinarily meant by those words and also membership or
membership interest of a member of a nonstock corporation; and the words
"depository receipt" mean a receipt or other instrument issued by a depository
representing an interest in one or more shares, or fractions thereof, solely of
stock of a corporation, which stock is deposited with the depository.
(b) Appraisal rights shall be available for the shares of any class or series
of stock of a constituent corporation in a merger or consolidation to be
effected pursuant to (S)251 (other than a merger effected pursuant to (S)251
(g) of this title), (S)252, (S)254, (S)257, (S)258, (S)263 or (S)264 of this
title:
(1) Provided, however, that no appraisal rights under this section shall be
available for the shares of any class or series of stock, which stock,
or depository receipts in respect each thereof, at the record date
fixed to determine the stockholders entitled to receive notice of and
to vote at the meeting of stockholders to act upon the agreement of
merger or consolidation, were either (i) listed on a national
securities exchange or designated as a national market system security
on an interdealer quotation system by the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. or (ii) held of record by more than 2,000
holders; and further provided that no appraisal rights shall be
available for any shares of stock of the constituent corporation
surviving a merger if the merger did not require for its approval the
vote of the stockholders of the surviving corporation as provide din
subsection (f) of (S)251 of this title.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, appraisal rights
under this section date shall be available for the shares of any class
or series of stock of a constituent corporation date if the holders
thereof are required by the terms of an agreement of merger or
consolidation pursuant to (S)(S)251, 252, 254, 257, 258, 263 and 264 of
this title to accept for such stock anything except:
a. Shares of stock of the corporation surviving or resulting from such
merger or consolidation, or depository receipts in respect thereof;
b. Shares of stock of any other corporation, or depository receipts in
respect thereof, which shares of stock (or depository receipts in
respect thereof) or depository receipts at the effective date of the
merger or consolidation will be either listed on a national
securities exchange or designated as a national market system
security on an interdealer quotation system by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or held of record by more
than 2,000 holders;
c. Cash in lieu of fractional shares or fractional depository receipts
described in the foregoing subparagraphs a. and b. of this
paragraph; or
d. Any combination of the shares of stock, depository receipts and cash
in lieu of fractional shares or fractional depository receipts
described in the foregoing subparagraphs a., b. and c. of this
paragraph.
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Annex D--Section 262--Delaware Law
(3) In the event all of the stock of a subsidiary Delaware corporation
party to a merger effected under (S)253 of this title is not owned by
the parent corporation immediately prior to the merger, appraisal
rights shall be available for the shares of the subsidiary Delaware
corporation.
(c) Any corporation may provide in its certificate of incorporation that
appraisal rights under this section shall be available for the shares of any
class of its stock as a result of an amendment to its certificate of
incorporation, any merger or consolidation in which the corporation is a
constituent corporation or the sale of all or substantially all of the assets
of the corporation. If the certificate of incorporation contains such a
provision, the procedures of this section, including those set forth in
subsections (d) and (e) of this section, shall apply as nearly as is
practicable.
(d) Appraisal rights shall be perfected as follows:
(1) If a proposed merger or consolidation for which appraisal rights are
provided under this section is to be submitted for approval at a
meeting of stockholders, the corporation, not less than 20 days prior
to the meeting, shall notify each of its stockholders who was such on
the record date for such meeting with respect to shares for which
appraisal rights are available pursuant to subsections (b) or (c)
hereof that appraisal rights are available for any or all of the shares
of the constituent corporations, and shall include in such notice a
copy of this section. Each stockholder electing to demand the appraisal
of such stockholder's share shall deliver to the corporation, before
the taking of the vote on the merger or consolidation, a written demand
for appraisal of such stockholder's shares. Such demand will be
sufficient if it reasonably informs the corporation of the identity of
the stockholder and that the stockholder intends thereby to demand the
appraisal of such stockholder's shares. A proxy or vote against the
merger or consolidation shall not constitute such a demand. A
stockholder electing to take such action must do so by a separate
written demand as herein provided. Within 10 days after the effective
date of such merger or consolidation, the surviving or resulting
corporation shall notify each stockholder of each constituent
corporation who has complied with this subsection and has not voted in
favor of or consented to the merger or consolidation of the date that
the merger or consolidation has become effective; or
(2) If the merger or consolidation was approved pursuant to (S)228 or
(S)253 of this title, each constituent corporation, either before the
effective date of the merger or consolidation or within ten days
thereafter, shall notify each of the holders of any class or series of
stock of such constituent corporation who are entitled to appraisal
rights of the approval of the merger or consolidation and that
appraisal rights are available for any or all shares of such class or
series of stock of such constituent corporation, and shall include in
such notice a copy of this section; provided that, if the notice is
given on or after the effective date of the merger or consolidation,
such notice shall be given by the surviving or resulting corporation to
all such holders of any class or series of stock of a constituent
corporation that are entitled to appraisal rights. Such notice may,
and, if given on or after the effective date of the merger or
consolidation, shall, also notify such stockholders of the effective
date of the merger or consolidation. Any stockholder entitled to
appraisal rights may, within 20 days after the date of mailing of such
notice, demand in writing from the surviving or resulting corporation
the appraisal of such holder's shares. Such demand will be sufficient
if it reasonably informs the corporation of the identity of the
stockholder and that the stockholder intends thereby to demand the
appraisal of such holder's shares. If such notice did not notify
stockholders of the effective date of the merger or consolidation,
either (i) each such constituent corporation shall send a second notice
before the effective date of the merger or consolidation notifying each
of the holders of any class or series of stock of such constituent
corporation that are entitled to appraisal rights of the effective date
of the merger or consolidation or (ii) the surviving or resulting
corporation shall send such a second notice to all such holders on or
within 10 days after such effective date; provided, however, that if
such second notice is sent more than 20 days following the sending of
the first notice, such second notice need only be sent to each
stockholder who is entitled to appraisal rights and who has demanded
appraisal of such holder's shares in accordance with this subsection.
An affidavit of the secretary or assistant secretary or of the transfer
agent of the corporation that is required to give either notice that
such notice has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima
facie evidence of the facts stated therein. For purposes of determining
the stockholders entitled to receive either notice,
D-2
<PAGE>
Annex D--Section 262--Delaware Law
each constituent corporation may fix, in advance, a record date that
shall be not more than 10 days prior to the date the notice is given,
provided, that if the notice is given on or after the effective date of
the merger or consolidation, the record date shall be such effective
date. If no record date is fixed and the notice is given prior to the
effective date, the record date shall be the close of business on the
day next preceding the day on which the notice is given.
(e) Within 120 days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation,
the surviving or resulting corporation or any stockholder who has complied
with subsections (a) and (d) hereof and who is otherwise entitled to appraisal
rights, may file a petition in the Court of Chancery demanding a determination
of the value of the stock of all such stockholders. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, at any time within 60 days after the effective date of the merger
or consolidation, any stockholder shall have the right to withdraw such
stockholder's demand for appraisal and to accept the terms offered upon the
merger or consolidation. Within 120 days after the effective date of the
merger or consolidation, any stockholder who has complied with the
requirements of subsections (a) and (d) hereof, upon written request, shall be
entitled to receive from the corporation surviving the merger or resulting
from the consolidation a statement setting forth the aggregate number of
shares not voted in favor of the merger or consolidation and with respect to
which demands for appraisal have been received and the aggregate number of
holders of such shares. Such written statement shall be mailed to the
stockholder within 10 days after such stockholder's written request for such a
statement is received by the surviving or resulting corporation or within 10
days after expiration of the period for delivery of demands for appraisal
under subsection (d) hereof, whichever is later.
(f) Upon the filing of any such petition by a stockholder, service of a copy
thereof shall be made upon the surviving or resulting corporation, which shall
within 20 days after such service file in the office of the Register in
Chancery in which the petition was filed a duly verified list containing the
names and addresses of all stockholders who have demanded payment for their
shares and with whom agreements as to the value of their shares have not been
reached by the surviving or resulting corporation. If the petition shall be
filed by the surviving or resulting corporation, the petition shall be
accompanied by such a duly verified list. The Register of Chancery, if so
ordered by the Court, shall give notice of the time and place fixed for the
hearing of such petition by registered or certified mail to the surviving or
resulting corporation and to the stockholders shown on the list at the
addresses therein stated. Such notice shall also be given by 1 or more
publications at least 1 week before the day of the hearing, in a newspaper of
general circulation published in the City of Wilmington, Delaware or such
publication as the Court deems advisable. The forms of the notices by mail and
by publication shall be approved by the Court, and the costs thereof shall be
borne by the surviving or resulting corporation.
(g) At the hearing on such petition, the Court shall determine the
stockholders who have complied with this section and who have become entitled
to appraisal rights. The Court may require the stockholders who have demanded
an appraisal for their shares and who hold stock represented by certificates
to submit their certificates of stock to the Register in Chancery for notation
thereon of the pendency of the appraisal proceedings; and if any stockholder
fails to comply with such direction, the Court may dismiss the proceedings as
to such stockholder.
(h) After determining the stockholders entitled to an appraisal, the Court
shall appraise the shares, determining their fair value exclusive of any
element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the merger
or consolidation, together with a fair rate of interest, if any, to be paid
upon the amount determined to be the fair value. In determining such fair
value, the Court shall take into account all relevant factors. In determining
the fair rate of interest, the Court may consider all relevant factors,
including the rate of interest which the surviving or resulting corporation
would have had to pay to borrow money during the pendency of the proceeding.
Upon application by the surviving or resulting corporation or by any
stockholder entitled to participate in the appraisal proceeding, the Court
may, in its discretion, permit discovery or other pretrial proceedings and may
proceed to trial upon the appraisal prior to the final determination of the
stockholder entitled to an appraisal. Any stockholder whose name appears on
the list filed by the surviving or resulting corporation pursuant to
subsection (f) of this section and who has submitted such stockholder's
D-3
<PAGE>
Annex D--Section 262--Delaware Law
certificates of stock to the Register of Chancery, if such is required, may
participate fully in all proceedings until it is finally determined that such
stockholder is not entitled to appraisal rights under this section.
(i) The Court shall direct the payment of the fair value of the shares,
together with interest, if any, by the surviving or resulting corporation to
the stockholders entitled thereto. Interest may be simple or compound, as the
Court may direct. Payment shall be so made to each such stockholder, in the
case of holders of uncertificated stock forthwith, and the case of holders of
shares represented by certificates upon the surrender to the corporation of the
certificates representing such stock. The Court's decree may be enforced as
other decrees in the Court of Chancery may be enforced, whether such surviving
or resulting corporation be a corporation of this State or of any state.
(j) The costs of the proceeding may be determined by the Court and taxed upon
the parties as the Court deems equitable in the circumstances. Upon application
of a stockholder, the Court may order all or a portion of the expenses incurred
by any stockholder in connection with the appraisal proceeding, including,
without limitation, reasonable attorney's fees and the fees and expenses of
experts, to be charged pro rata against the value of all the shares entitled to
an appraisal.
(k) From and after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, no
stockholder who has demanded appraisal rights as provided in subsection (d) of
this section shall be entitled to vote such stock for any purpose or to receive
payment of dividends or other distributions on the stock (except dividends or
other distributions payable to stockholders of record at a date which is prior
to the effective date of the merger or consolidation); provided, however, that
if no petition for an appraisal shall be filed within the time provided in
subsection (e) of this section, or if such stockholder shall deliver to the
surviving or resulting corporation a written withdrawal of such stockholder's
demand for an appraisal and an acceptance of the merger or consolidation,
either within 60 days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation
as provided in subsection (e) of this section or thereafter with the written
approval of the corporation, then the right of such stockholder to an appraisal
shall cease. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no appraisal proceeding in the
Court of Chancery shall be dismissed as to any stockholder without the approval
of the Court, and such approval may be conditioned upon such terms as the Court
deems just.
(l) The shares of the surviving or resulting corporation to which the shares of
such objecting stockholders would have been converted had they assented to the
merger or consolidation shall have the status of authorized and unissued shares
of the surviving or resulting corporation. (Last amended by Ch. 339, L. '98,
eff. 7-1-98.)
D-4
<PAGE>
Your Vote
Is Important.
Please Vote
Today!
[artwork]
<PAGE>
[Dominion Resources logo]
http://www.domres.com
[CNG logo]
http://www.cng.com
<PAGE>
PART II--INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
<TABLE>
<C> <S>
2 Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated May 11, 1999,
by and between Dominion Resources, Inc. and Consolidated Natural Gas
Company (filed herewith as Annex A).
3.1 Articles of Incorporation as in effect April 16, 1999 (Exhibit 3 (i),
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999, File No. 1-8489,
incorporated by reference).
3.2 Bylaws as in effect on April 16, 1999 (Exhibit 3(ii), Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended March 31, 1999, File No. 1-8489, incorporated by
reference).
5 Opinion of James F. Stutts, Vice President and General Counsel of
Dominion Resources regarding validity of securities being registered
(filed herewith).
11 Computation of Earnings Per Share of Common Stock basic and diluted can
be found on pages 89 and 90.
23.1 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (filed herewith).
23.2 Consent of Ralph E. Davis Associates, Inc. (previously filed).
23.3 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP (filed herewith).
23.4 Consent of James F. Stutts, Vice President and General Counsel of
Dominion Resources (contained in Exhibit 5).
24 Powers of Attorney (previously filed and, for Mr. Chewning, included on
the signature page of this Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-4 and
incorporated herein by reference).
99.1 Dominion Resources Proxy Card (filed herewith).
99.2 CNG Proxy Card (filed herewith).
</TABLE>
INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Article VI of Dominion Resources' Articles of Incorporation mandates
indemnification of its directors and officers to the full extent permitted by
the Virginia Stock Corporation Act (the Virginia Act) and any other applicable
law. The Virginia Act permits a corporation to indemnify its directors and
officers against liability incurred in all proceedings, including derivative
proceedings, arising out of their service to the corporation or to other
corporations or enterprises that the officer or director was serving at the
request of the corporation, except in the case of willful misconduct or a
knowing violation of a criminal law. Dominion Resources is required to
indemnify its directors and officers in all such proceedings if they have not
violated this standard.
In addition, Article VI of Dominion Resources' Articles of Incorporation
limits the liability of its directors and officers to the full extent permitted
by the Virginia Act as now and hereafter in effect. The Virginia Act places a
limit on the liability of a director or officer in derivative or shareholder
proceedings equal to the lesser of (i) the amount specified in the
corporation's articles of incorporation or a shareholder-approved bylaw; or
(ii) the greater of (a) $100,000 or (b) twelve months of cash compensation
received by the director or officer. The limit does not apply in the event the
director or officer has engaged in willful misconduct or a knowing violation of
a criminal law or a federal or state securities law. The effect of Dominion
Resources' Articles of Incorporation, together with the Virginia Act, is to
eliminate liability of directors and officers for monetary damages in
derivative or shareholder proceedings so long as the required standard of
conduct is met.
Dominion Resources has purchased directors' and officers' liability insurance
policies. Within the limits of their coverage, the policies insure (1) the
directors and officers of Dominion Resources against certain losses resulting
from claims against them in their capacities as directors and officers to the
extent that such losses are not indemnified by Dominion Resources and (2)
Dominion Resources to the extent that it indemnifies such directors and
officers for losses as permitted under the laws of Virginia.
II-1
<PAGE>
UNDERTAKINGS
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) That prior to any public reoffering of the securities registered
hereunder through use of a prospectus which is a part of this registration
statement, by any person or party who is deemed to be an underwriter within
the meaning of Rule 145(c), the issuer undertakes that such reoffering
prospectus will contain the information called for by the applicable
registration form with respect to reofferings by persons who may be deemed
underwriters, in addition to the information called for by the other items
of the applicable form.
(2) That every prospectus (i) that is filed pursuant to paragraph (1)
immediately preceding, or (ii) that purports to meet the requirements of
Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 and is used in connection
with an offering of securities subject to Rule 415, will be filed as a part
of an amendment to the registration statement and will not be used until
such amendment is effective, and that, for purposes of determining any
liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective
amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to
the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) That for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to
section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and,
where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report
pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is
incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to
be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering hereof.
(4) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and
controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions,
or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the
event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than
the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director,
officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense
of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or
controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the
registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against
public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
(5) To respond to requests for information that is incorporated by
reference into the prospectus pursuant to Item 4, 10(b), 11 or 13 of this
Form, within one business day of receipt of such request, and to send the
incorporated documents by first class mail or other equally prompt means.
This includes information contained in documents filed subsequent to the
effective date of the Registration Statement through the date of responding
to the request.
(6) To supply by means of a post-effective amendment all information
concerning a transaction, and the company being acquired or involved
therein, that was not the subject of and included in the registration
statement when it became effective.
II-2
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant has duly
caused this pre-effective amendment no. 1 to the registration statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City
of Richmond, Commonwealth of Virginia, on the 20th day of May, 1999.
DOMINION RESOURCES, INC.
By: /s/Thos. E. Capps
-----------------------------------
(Thos. E. Capps, Chairman of the
Board of
Directors, President and Chief
Executive Officer)
Pursuant to requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this pre-effective
amendment no. 1 to the registration statement has been signed by the following
persons in the capacities indicated and on the 20th day of May, 1999. The
officers and directors whose signatures appear below hereby constitute Patricia
A. Wilkerson or W. H. Riggs, Jr., either of whom may act, as their true and
lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power to sign on their behalf individually
and in each capacity stated below and file all amendments and post-effective
amendments to the registration statement making such changes in the
registration statement as the registrant deems appropriate, and generally to do
all things in their name and in their capacities as officers and directors to
enable the registrant to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of
1933 and all requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
<TABLE>
Signature Title
<S> <C>
Director
/s/ John B. Adams, Jr.*
- - ----------------------------------
John B. Adams, Jr.
Director
/s/ John B. Bernhardt*
- - ----------------------------------
John B. Bernhardt
Chairman of the Board of
/s/ Thos. E. Capps* Directors, President and
- - ---------------------------------- Chief Executive Officer
Thos. E. Capps
Director
- - ----------------------------------
John W. Harris
/s/ Benjamin J. Lambert, III* Director
- - ----------------------------------
Benjamin J. Lambert, III
/s/ Richard L. Leatherwood* Director
- - ----------------------------------
Richard L. Leatherwood
/s/ K. A. Randall* Director
- - ----------------------------------
K. A. Randall
/s/ Frank S. Royal* Director
- - ----------------------------------
Frank S. Royal
</TABLE>
II-3
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Signature Title
/s/ S. Dallas Simmons* Director
- - -----------------------------------
S. Dallas Simmons
/s/ Robert H. Spilman* Director
- - -----------------------------------
Robert H. Spilman
/s/ Judith B. Warrick* Director
- - -----------------------------------
Judith B. Warrick
Director
- - -----------------------------------
David A. Wollard
/s/ Thomas N. Chewning Executive Vice President
- - ----------------------------------- (Chief Financial Officer)
Thomas N. Chewning
/s/ J. L. Trueheart* Senior Vice President and
- - ----------------------------------- Controller (Principal
J. L. Trueheart Accounting Officer)
</TABLE>
*By /s/ W.H. Riggs, Jr. Attorney-in-fact
--------------------------------
W.H. Riggs, Jr.
Agent for Service
II-4
<PAGE>
Exhibit 5
Dominion Resources, Inc.
P.O. Box 26532
Richmond, VA 23261
May 19, 1999
Board of Directors
Dominion Resources, Inc.
P.O. Box 26532
Richmond, VA 23261
Dear Sir/Madam:
I am Vice President and General Counsel of Dominion Resources, Inc. (the
Company), and I have advised the Company in connection with the registration,
pursuant to an amended Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the Registration
Statement) being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
Securities Act of 1933, of 250,169,392 shares of the Company's Common Stock,
without par value (the Common Stock), to be issued pursuant to the amended and
restated merger agreement between the Company and Consolidated Natural Gas
(CNG), dated as of May 11, 1999. In connection with the filing of the
Registration Statement, you have requested my opinion concerning certain
corporate matters.
I am of the opinion that the issuance of Common Stock has been duly authorized
and when issued in accordance with the terms and provisions of the merger
agreement and as described in the joint proxy statement/prospectus, the shares
of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5 to the Registration
Statement. In giving this consent, I do not thereby admit that I am within the
category of persons where consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities
Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ James F. Stutts
James F. Stutts, Esq.
Vice President and General Counsel
<PAGE>
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Accountants
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus constituting part of this Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to
the Registration Statement on Form S-4 of Dominion Resources, Inc. of our report
dated February 9, 1999, except as to the subsequent event described in Note 19
which is as of February 22, 1999, appearing on page 22 of Appendix I to
Consolidated Natural Gas Company proxy statement for the 1999 annual meeting of
stockholders which is incorporated by reference in its Annual Report on Form
10-K. We also consent to the references to us under the heading "Experts" in
such Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
600 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219-9954
May 20, 1999
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23.3
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
We consent to the use in this Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration
Statement No. 333-75669 of Dominion Resources, Inc. on Form S-4 of our report
dated February 8, 1999 (February 22, 1999, as to Note X) appearing in the
Prospectus, which is a part of such Registration Statement, and to the reference
to us under the heading "Experts" in such Prospectus.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Richmond, Virginia
May 19, 1999
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 99.1
The 1999 Special Meeting PROXY CARD
This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board [Dominion Resources logo]
of Directors. The Board of Directors recommends
a vote "FOR" Items 1, 2, and 3.
_______________________________________________________________________
Your Control Number is:
_______________________________________________________________________
1. Approval of the First Merger.
[ ] For [ ] Against [ ] Abstain
2. Approval of the Second Merger, including the related issuance of stock..
[ ] For [ ] Against [ ] Abstain
3. Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of
authorized common stock shares to 500,000,000.
[ ] For [ ] Against [ ] Abstain
The undersigned appoints Kenneth A. Randall, Frank S. Royal, M.D., and Patricia
A. Wilkerson, or any one of them, with the power of substitution, proxies to
vote all shares of the undersigned at the Special Meeting of Shareholders on
June 30, 1999, and at any and all adjournments thereof.
_____________________,1999
Date
_________________________
Signature
_________________________
Signature (if held jointly)
________________________________________________________________________
In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote on any matters that
properly come before the meeting.
This proxy when properly executed will be voted as directed by the signed
shareholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted "FOR" Items 1, 2
and 3.
Please sign exactly as your name appears on this proxy. When shares are
held by joint tenants, both shareholders should sign.
When signing in a representative capacity, please give your representative
title. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by president or
other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by
authorized person.
________________________________________________________________________________
IF YOU ARE VOTING BY MAIL, please fold and detach card at perforation before
mailing in the enclosed envelope.
[Dominion Resources logo] Dominion Resources, Inc.
P.O. Box 26532
Richmond, Virginia 23261
To our Shareholders:
Dominion Resources is pleased to offer you three ways to vote your 1999 Special
Meeting Proxy.
When voting by internet or telephone, you will be prompted to enter your
control number. Simple prompts will be presented to you to record your vote.
Internet and telephone votes must be received by 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, June
29, 1999 to be counted in the final tabulation.
If you vote by internet or telephone, do not return your proxy card by
mail.
If you choose to vote by mail, please mark, date and sign your proxy card.
Please use the postage-paid envelope to return your proxy.
_______________________________________________________________________
VOTE YOUR PROXY
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
[Computer Illustration] [Telephone Illustration] [Envelope Illustration]
<S> <C> <C>
By Internet By Telephone By Mail
Access the Website at Call toll-free: Return postage proxy in
http://www.votefast.com 1-800-250-9081 the postage-paid envelope
using a touch-tone phone provided.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
May 26, 1999
Dear Stockholder:
It is important that every stockholder be represented at the meeting regardless
of the number of shares owned. Please execute and return your proxy promptly.
Sincerely,
George A. Davidson, Jr.
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE>
CONSOLIDATED NATURAL GAS COMPANY
Proxy Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company
For the Special Meeting of Stockholders on June 30, 1999
The undersigned hereby appoints G.A. Davidson, Jr., D.M. Westfall and S.E.
Williams, and each or any of them, proxies with full power of substitution to
vote the stock of the undersigned, as directed hereon, at the Special Meeting of
Stockholders of CONSOLIDATED NATURAL GAS COMPANY to be held at Tappan Hill, 81
Highland Avenue, Tarrytown, New York, 10591 at 9:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) and at
any adjournment thereof. According to the By-Laws, no matters other than the
stated proposal may be considered at this Special Meeting.
Please specify your choice by marking the appropriate box, SEE REVERSE SIDE.
When properly executed, this proxy will be voted in accordance with your
instructions, or, IF YOU GIVE NO INSTRUCTIONS, this proxy will be voted
FOR Item 1.
Change of Address
- - -------------------------------------------------
- - -------------------------------------------------
- - -------------------------------------------------
- - -------------------------------------------------
- - -------------------------------------------------
If you have written in the above space, please
mark the Change of Address box on the reverse
side of the card.
SEE REVERSE SIDE
<PAGE>
[X] Please mark vote as in this example.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote "FOR" Item 1.
1. Approval and adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger with Dominion
Resources, Inc.
For Against Abstain
[_] [_] [_]
[_] Will Attend Special Meeting
[_] Change of Address
(see reverse side)
Dated: , 1999
-------------------------
-------------------------------------
Signature
-------------------------------------
Signature if held jointly
NOTE: Please sign exactly as name
appears hereon. Joint owners should
each sign. When signing as attorney,
executor, administrator, trustee or
guardian, please give full title as
such.
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOLD AND DETACH HERE, PLEASE VOTE, SIGN, AND RETURN THE ABOVE PROXY
CONSOLIDATED NATURAL GAS COMPANY
Special Meeting of Stockholders
Your vote is important. Thank you for voting.
VOTE YOUR PROXY
Return your proxy in the
postage-paid envelope provided.
